S
Species Profile

Swallow

Hirundinidae

Masters of the open air
Tom Reichner/Shutterstock.com

Swallow Distribution

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Found in 67 countries

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates 🇦🇷 Argentina 🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇩 Bangladesh 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇱 Chile 🇨🇲 Cameroon 🇨🇳 China 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🇨🇺 Cuba 🇩🇪 Germany 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic 🇩🇿 Algeria 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇪🇸 Spain 🇪🇹 Ethiopia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇬🇷 Greece 🇬🇹 Guatemala 🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇱 Israel 🇮🇳 India 🇮🇶 Iraq 🇮🇷 Iran 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇯🇵 Japan 🇰🇪 Kenya 🇰🇷 South Korea 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 🇲🇦 Morocco 🇲🇳 Mongolia 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇳🇴 Norway 🇳🇵 Nepal 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇵🇦 Panama 🇵🇪 Peru 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea 🇵🇭 Philippines 🇵🇰 Pakistan 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇹🇭 Thailand 🇹🇳 Tunisia 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇹🇿 Tanzania 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇺🇬 Uganda 🇺🇸 United States 🇻🇪 Venezuela 🇻🇳 Vietnam 🇿🇦 South Africa

At a Glance

Family Overview This page covers the Swallow family as a group. Stats below are general traits shared across the family.
Also Known As Martins, Hirundines
Activity Diurnal+
Lifespan 4 years
Weight 0.06 lbs
Status Not Evaluated
Did You Know?

Hirundinidae includes both "swallows" and "martins," spanning many species on every continent except Antarctica.

Scientific Classification

Family Overview "Swallow" is not a single species but represents an entire family containing multiple species.

Swallows (family Hirundinidae) are small to medium passerine birds specialized for catching flying insects on the wing. They typically have streamlined bodies, long pointed wings, and often forked tails, enabling agile flight.

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Hirundinidae

Distinguishing Features

  • Streamlined body with long, pointed wings adapted for sustained aerial feeding
  • Often a forked or notched tail (varies by genus/species)
  • Aerial insectivory: catching insects in flight
  • Nesting strategies include mud nests on structures/cliffs, burrows in banks, or cavity use (species-dependent)

Physical Measurements

Males and females differ in size

Length
♂ 6 in (4 in – 8 in)
♀ 6 in (4 in – 9 in)
Weight
♂ 0 lbs (0 lbs – 0 lbs)
♀ 0 lbs (0 lbs – 0 lbs)
Tail Length
♂ 2 in (1 in – 5 in)
♀ 2 in (1 in – 4 in)
Top Speed
43 mph
flying

Appearance

Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
Skin Type Feathered body with streamlined contour feathers; bare scaly legs/feet; short keratin bill with wide gape and rictal bristles.
Distinctive Features
  • Measurements (range across Hirundinidae): total length about 9-24 cm; body mass about 0.007-0.060 kg (smallest to largest species).
  • Lifespan (range across species): commonly ~2-8 years in the wild; maximum recorded in some species roughly ~10-16+ years.
  • Aerodynamic build: slender body, long pointed wings, and often a forked or notched tail for agile aerial foraging.
  • Feeding ecology: specialized aerial insectivores taking flies, midges, ants/termites; diet varies with region, season, and weather.
  • Foraging behavior: fast, maneuverable flight; many skim low over water/fields; some forage higher in open air or around forest edges.
  • Nesting diversity: open mud cups on cliffs/buildings, enclosed mud retorts, burrows in banks/sand, and use of cavities/boxes; coloniality ranges from solitary pairs to large colonies.
  • Global distribution: occurs on most continents; many temperate species are strongly migratory, while many tropical species are resident or make local movements.
  • Human association: frequent nesting on bridges, eaves, culverts, and other structures; tolerance varies by species and region.
  • How they differ from swifts (Apodiformes): swallows are passerines that can perch and often sit on wires; swifts have extremely short legs, rarely perch, and show different wing/feet structure despite similar aerial lifestyles.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is usually subtle across the family. In many species males average glossier/darker plumage and longer tail streamers or deeper fork, while females are slightly duller with shorter tail streamers; size differences are typically small.

♂
  • Often slightly longer outer tail feathers (streamers) or deeper tail fork in streamer-tailed species.
  • Plumage may appear marginally glossier or more saturated on upperparts and throat patches.
  • In some species, males average slightly larger overall measurements, but overlap is extensive.
♀
  • Tail streamers typically shorter on average where streamers occur.
  • Plumage often a bit duller or browner, especially on underparts or throat.
  • In many species, females overlap males in size and coloration, making field sexing difficult.

Did You Know?

Hirundinidae includes both "swallows" and "martins," spanning many species on every continent except Antarctica.

Across the family, adults are small to medium: roughly ~9-24 cm long and about ~8-70 g, with long pointed wings built for fast, efficient flight.

Many species migrate huge distances (especially in temperate regions), while many tropical species are largely resident-migration varies widely by species and latitude.

Nests are remarkably diverse: some build mud "cups" on buildings and cliffs, others excavate long burrows in sand banks, and some use tree cavities or old woodpecker holes.

Swallows are passerines (perching birds) and can sit on wires or branches-unlike swifts (Apodiformes), which have very short legs and rarely perch normally.

Some swallows form massive communal roosts in reedbeds or urban trees, creating spectacular evening "swirl-ins" as they settle to sleep.

Unique Adaptations

  • Streamlined bodies with long, pointed wings: high aspect-ratio wings reduce energy costs in sustained flight and boost maneuverability for insect capture.
  • Wide gape and rictal bristles: a broad mouth opening and facial bristles help funnel and secure tiny flying insects during high-speed chases.
  • Perching passerine feet: unlike swifts, swallows can perch comfortably on wires and branches, aiding social gathering and vigilance.
  • Tail shape diversity (often forked): many have forked tails that aid agile turning; tail length and fork depth vary greatly among genera and species.
  • Rapid, flexible nesting strategies: from mud cups to tunnels to cavities, the family has repeatedly adapted nesting to local materials, geology, and human structures.
  • Seasonal physiological flexibility: many species adjust fat stores and muscle condition for migration, while others track wet/dry seasons to follow insect abundance.

Interesting Behaviors

  • Aerial hawking: most hunt insects on the wing, often skimming over water, fields, or treetops; prey choice shifts with local insect availability.
  • Flexible sociality: ranges from solitary pairs to dense colonies (notably many burrow-nesters); flocking and communal roosting are common outside breeding season.
  • Nesting alongside humans: several species readily use bridges, barns, culverts, and eaves; others remain tied to natural cliffs, banks, or forest cavities-human association varies by species.
  • Mud engineering: many build nests pellet-by-pellet with mud and plant fibers, sometimes reusing and repairing old nests across seasons.
  • Burrow excavation: some species dig horizontal tunnels in sandy banks; colony members may synchronize digging, and burrow length/placement varies with substrate and predation risk.
  • Migration vs residency: temperate breeders often migrate long distances; equatorial/tropical species may be resident or move locally in response to rains and insect booms.
  • Aerial courtship and signaling: tail streamers, wingbeats, calls, and flight displays are used in mate choice; traits and display intensity vary across species.

Cultural Significance

Swallows (Hirundinidae) are seen as signs of spring and good luck. In Europe they are welcomed on farms for eating bugs and nesting in barns. Sailors used swallow tattoos for safe return. In East Asia they mean happiness and homecoming. Harming swallows is often not allowed.

Myths & Legends

Ancient Mediterranean natural history (from Aristotle onward) repeated the belief that swallows vanished in winter by hibernating-sometimes said to sleep in mud or even underwater-reflecting early attempts to explain migration.

In Greek myth, the tragic sisters Procne and Philomela were transformed into birds; in many tellings Procne becomes a swallow, eternally expressing grief through its restless flight and calls.

A famous Korean folktale ("Heungbu and Nolbu") tells of a poor, kind man who heals an injured swallow; the grateful swallow returns with a magical gourd seed that brings fortune, while greed is punished.

Chinese traditional lore links the swallow (often called the "dark bird") with auspicious births and dynastic origins in ancient stories where a swallow's egg is tied to the conception of a revered ancestor.

Across parts of Europe, swallows nesting on a house were taken as a blessing and a sign of prosperity; conversely, destroying their nests was said to invite misfortune or loss.

In English-speaking literature that became widely folkloric in retellings, Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince" features a migrating swallow as a compassionate messenger, reinforcing the bird's association with loyalty and return.

Conservation Status

NE Not Evaluated at the family level (Hirundinidae). Across the family, most species are Least Concern (LC), but several are Near Threatened to Endangered, including some island and localized taxa facing rapid habitat change and small ranges.

Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.

Population Unknown

Protected Under

  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS/Bonn Convention) - some migratory swallow species and populations covered via appendices or regional instruments
  • EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) - protects all wild bird species naturally occurring in the EU, including swallows, their nests, and eggs
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (United States) and Migratory Birds Convention Act (Canada) - protections for many swallow species, nests, and take regulations
  • National wildlife protection laws in many range states, often including prohibitions on killing, nest destruction, and disturbance during breeding

Looking for a specific species?

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Often meant by the unqualified common name "swallow" in much of Europe and many global contexts; widespread, familiar around human structures, and culturally prominent.

  • Long-distance migrant across much of its range, tracking seasonal insect abundance.
  • Frequently nests on buildings and other human-made structures, using mud to form a cup nest.
  • Highly aerial insectivore; forages over fields, wetlands, and open water.
  • Strongly associated with open habitats and agricultural landscapes; often forms pre-migration roosts.
View Barn Swallow Profile

You might be looking for:

Barn Swallow

28%

Hirundo rustica

Widespread swallow with deeply forked tail; often nests on human structures; long-distance migrant in many regions.

View Profile

Cliff Swallow

14%

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Colonial nester known for gourd-shaped mud nests on cliffs/bridges; common in North America.

Tree Swallow

12%

Tachycineta bicolor

North American swallow with iridescent blue-green back and white underparts; uses cavities/nest boxes.

View Profile

Purple Martin

10%

Progne subis

Largest North American swallow; often dependent on human-provided martin houses in the east.

House Martin (Common House Martin)

10%

Delichon urbicum

Eurasian swallow that builds mud nests under eaves; white rump and underparts.

Sand Martin (Bank Swallow)

9%

Riparia riparia

Small swallow that excavates burrows in sandy banks; widespread across the Northern Hemisphere.

Red-rumped Swallow

7%

Cecropis daurica

Old World swallow with rufous rump; often nests in sheltered sites like culverts and caves.

Welcome Swallow

6%

Hirundo neoxena

Common Australian swallow; similar to barn swallow; frequently nests on buildings.

Life Cycle

Birth 4 chicks
Lifespan 4 years

Lifespan

In the Wild 1–16 years
In Captivity 2–18 years

Reproduction

Mating System Monogamy
Social Structure Socially Monogamous
Breeding Pattern Seasonal
Fertilization Internal Fertilization
Birth Type Internal_fertilization

Across Hirundinidae, pairs are typically socially monogamous during a breeding season, often nesting solitarily or in colonies. Extra-pair copulations can be common, so genetic monogamy varies. Occasional polygyny and frequent re-pairing across years occur in some species.

Behavior & Ecology

Social Flock Group: 200
Activity Diurnal, Crepuscular, Matutinal, Vespertine
Diet Insectivore Small aerial insects-especially midges and mosquitoes/gnats (Diptera) when swarming.
Seasonal Migratory 6,214 mi

Temperament

Family-wide ranges (approx.): body length ~9-23 cm; wingspan ~20-50+ cm; mass ~6-70 g. Lifespan commonly ~2-6 years, with recorded maxima in some species ~10-16+ years (strongly dependent on migration distance, predation, and weather).
Generally highly active, agile, and conspicuously aerial; spend much time on the wing while foraging.
Often gregarious away from nests, with high tolerance at communal roosts; density can be very high.
Territoriality is usually strongest at immediate nest site; intensity varies from mild defense to aggressive disputes in colonies.
Risk-taking/"boldness" varies: many species readily use human structures, while others remain more habitat-specialized.
Seasonal shifts are pronounced: breeding tends toward site fidelity and pair-focused behavior; non-breeding often shifts to flocking and long-distance movements.
Ecological variation across the family includes solitary vs colonial nesting, short- vs long-distance migration, and differing dependence on open habitats near water or insect-rich landscapes.

Communication

Short contact calls to maintain cohesion in flight and during roosting
Rapid twittering/warbling sequences, often heightened during courtship and nest activity
Alarm calls and agitation notes directed at predators and intruders near nests
Nestling begging calls and parent-offspring feeding coordination calls
Aerial displays (circling, swooping, chase flights) used in courtship, rivalry, and flock coordination
Visual signals including wing flicking, tail spreading, and posture changes during interactions
Nest-based signals: repeated approaches, perch/entry behavior, and material-carrying can advertise occupancy
Spatial positioning within flocks/roosts (spacing, alignment, synchronized takeoffs) conveys social tolerance and cohesion

Habitat

Biomes:
Tropical Rainforest Tropical Dry Forest Savanna Desert Hot Desert Cold Mediterranean Temperate Grassland Temperate Forest Temperate Rainforest Boreal Forest (Taiga) Tundra Alpine Freshwater Marine Wetland +9
Terrain:
Plains Valley Hilly Plateau Mountainous Riverine Coastal Island Rocky Sandy Muddy +5
Elevation: Up to 14763 ft 9 in

Ecological Role

Widespread aerial insect predators linking terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal food webs.

Biological control of aerial insects (including many pest and nuisance taxa such as mosquitoes and crop-associated flies) Energy/nutrient transfer from aquatic insect emergences to terrestrial predators and nesting colonies Prey base for higher trophic levels (raptors, owls, snakes, mammals), supporting broader ecosystem structure Indicators of insect abundance and environmental change due to strong dependence on flying-insect availability

Diet Details

Other Foods:
Small fruits and berries Flower nectar

Human Interaction

Domestication Status

Wild

Swallows (family Hirundinidae) are not domesticated. Many species live near people and nest on buildings, bridges, culverts, and other structures. This is an adaptation, not domestication. People sometimes offer ledges or nest cups and handle birds in rehab, but there has been no long-term breeding by people to make a domesticated form.

Danger Level

Low
  • Nuisance from droppings and staining when nesting on buildings/porches/bridges (common with synanthropic species; varies widely by species and local colony size).
  • Occasional ectoparasites (mites, swallow bugs) associated with nests; bites/irritation can occur if nests are on or in buildings.
  • Low but non-zero disease risk typical of wild birds (e.g., bacterial contamination from droppings); rare human respiratory issues can occur where large accumulations of droppings support fungal growth (risk depends on ventilation and accumulation; not unique to swallows).
  • Aviation/vehicle collision hazard is generally low but can be locally notable around large roosts, bridges, or near water where swallows forage.

As a Pet

Not Suitable as Pet

Legality: Keeping swallows (Hirundinidae) as pets is usually illegal or tightly controlled. In the U.S., most native swallows are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and need permits or licensed rehabilitators; EU/UK rules are similar.

Care Level: Expert Only

Purchase Cost:
Lifetime Cost: $500 - $6,000

Economic Value

Uses:
Ecosystem services (natural pest control of flying insects) Agriculture support (insect suppression near fields/pastures; variable and hard to monetize) Ecotourism/birdwatching value Cultural/educational value (folklore, seasonal indicators, school/community nature programs) Minor costs/nuisance management (droppings, nest removal/cleaning, building maintenance)
Products:
  • No major direct products across the family. Indirect value primarily comes from insect consumption (potentially reducing pest pressure) and from recreation/education.
  • In some regions, human interactions include installation of artificial nesting sites and, conversely, exclusion measures (netting/spikes/cleaning) to manage droppings or nesting on structures.

Relationships

Predators 8

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Merlin Falco columbarius
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Black Rat Snake Pantherophis obsoletus

Related Species 8

Barn swallows and allies Hirundinidae Shared Family
Martins Progne Shared Family
House martins Delichon Shared Genus
Sand martin / bank swallow Riparia Shared Family
Cliff swallows Petrochelidon spp. Shared Family
Tree swallows and allies Hirundinidae Shared Family
Rough-winged swallows Stelgidopteryx Shared Genus
Saw-wings Psalidoprocne Shared Genus

Ecological Equivalents 5

Animals that fill a similar ecological role in their ecosystem

Common Swift Apus apus Aerial insectivore that captures flying insects on the wing. Overlaps strongly in foraging airspace and prey type, but is not closely related (Order Apodiformes).
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Large, fast-flying aerial insectivore that hunts high over landscapes, similar to some larger swallows and martins; exhibits convergent wing and flight ecology.
Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis Perches and sallies for insects in open airspace, occupying a similar niche (aerial hawking) despite belonging to a different lineage (Apodiformes).
Old World flycatchers Muscicapidae Catch insects in flight by sallying from perches; share prey and an insect-focused trophic role, but are generally less continuously aerial than swallows.
Nightjars Caprimulgidae Crepuscular to nocturnal aerial insectivores; overlap in prey (moths and other flying insects) and open-air foraging, but differ in temporal niche and flight style.

Types of Swallow

37

Explore 37 recognized types of swallow

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica
Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis
Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata
Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis
Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata
House Martin Delichon urbicum
Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus
Nepal House Martin Delichon nipalense
Sand Martin (Bank Swallow) Riparia riparia
Pale Martin Riparia diluta
Banded Martin Riparia cincta
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta albilinea
White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer
Chilean Swallow Tachycineta leucopyga
Purple Martin Progne subis
Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
Caribbean Martin Progne dominicensis
Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera
Southern Martin Progne elegans
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva
Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica
Brazza's Martin Phedina brazzae
Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera

The swallow (Hirundinidae) is a bird family encompassing morphologically unique passerine birds. There are 89 swallow species, and they have an extensive range, inhabiting every continent except for Antarctica. You will find them in any open area, such as grasslands and open woodlands. Some species are highly social, joining flocks outside the breeding season, while others are solitary and only form monogamous pairs.  

5 Amazing Facts

  • Unlike most passerine species, swallows have aerodynamic bodies for hunting in flight.
  • These birds are relatively vocal and use their musical twittering to express excitement, communicate with each other, and warn their species of intruders.
  • While they don’t inhabit Antarctica, some species are common vagrants to the continent and its islands.
  • Some swallows break apart into niches to feed. Some will feed on the ground, while others will forage higher up.
  • They fiercely defend their nests and lunge at intruders.

Where to Find the Swallow

The swallow inhabits every continent except Antarctica, and some species are vagrants to remote islands and can even fly to Antarctica. These migratory birds have extensive ranges, breeding in the northern hemisphere and wintering in the southern hemisphere. However, those in tropical areas may be more sedentary. They live in any open habitat, including grasslands, open woodlands, savannas, mangroves, marshes, scrublands, agricultural fields, and are also found in urban areas. These birds stay from sea level to high alpine habitats and easily adapt to manmade areas. 

Nest

New World swallow species nest in cavities, and Old World swallows construct mud nests. Their requirements include an overhead that protects them from weather and predators, and both sexes assist in gathering materials and forming the structure. Some build tunnels, digging together as a pair.

👁 Tree Swallow Gets its Target - a tree swallow grabs its target as it flies over the water surface of a pond. Silverthorne, Colorado.

A tree swallow grabs its target as it flies over the water surface of a pond. Silverthorne, Colorado.

©Richard Seeley/Shutterstock.com

Classification and Scientific Name

The swallow (Hirundinidae) is from the Passeriformes order and is morphologically unique from other passerines due to their aerodynamic body, perfect for hunting by the wing. 

The Hirundinidae family contains 21 genera and 89 species: 

Cliff-Nesting Swallows

  • American cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
  • Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva
  • Chestnut-collared swallow, Petrochelidon rufocollaris
  • Preuss’s cliff swallow, Petrochelidon preussi
  • Red-throated cliff swallow, Petrochelidon rufigula
  • Red Sea cliff swallow, Petrochelidon perdita
  • South African cliff swallow, Petrochelidon spilodera
  • Streak-throated swallow, Petrochelidon fluvicola
  • Fairy martin, Petrochelidon ariel
  • Tree martin, Petrochelidon nigricans

Forest Swallows

  • Forest swallow, Atronanus fuliginosus

African and Tropical Asian Swallows

  • Red-breasted swallow, Cecropis semirufa
  • Mosque swallow, Cecropis senegalensis
  • Lesser striped swallow, Cecropis abyssinica
  • Greater striped swallow, Cecropis cucullata
  • Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
  • West African swallow, Cecropis domicella
  • Sri Lanka swallow, Cecropis hyperythra
  • Striated swallow, Cecropis striolata
  • Rufous-bellied swallow, Cecropis badia

House Martins

  • Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
  • Siberian house martin, Delichon lagopodum
  • Asian house martin, Delichon dasypus
  • Nepal house martin, Delichon nipalense

Typical Swallows

  • Black-and-rufous swallow, Hirundo nigrorufa
  • Blue swallow, Hirundo atrocaerulea
  • Pied-winged swallow, Hirundo leucosoma
  • White-tailed swallow, Hirundo megaensis
  • Pearl-breasted swallow, Hirundo dimidiata
  • Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
  • Hill swallow, Hirundo domicola
  • Welcome swallow, Hirundo neoxena
  • White-throated swallow, Hirundo albigularis
  • Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
  • White-bibbed swallow, Hirundo nigrita
  • Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
  • Angola swallow, Hirundo angolensis
  • Red-chested swallow, Hirundo lucida
  • Ethiopian swallow, Hirundo aethiopica

Crag Martins

  • Eurasian crag martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
  • Pale crag martin, Ptyonoprogne obsoleta
  • Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
  • Dusky crag martin, Ptyonoprogne concolor

Only-Genus Swallows

  • White-backed swallow, Cheramoeca leucosterna
  • Grey-rumped swallow, Pseudhirundo griseopyga
  • Tawny-headed swallow, Alopochelidon fucata
  • Mascarene martin, Phedina borbonica
  • Brazza’s martin, Phedinopsis brazzae
  • Banded martin, Neophedina cincta

New World Martins

  • Brown-chested martin, Progne tapera
  • Peruvian martin, Progne murphyi
  • Galápagos martin, Progne modesta
  • Purple martin, Progne subis
  • Southern martin, Progne elegans
  • Grey-breasted martin, Progne chalybea
  • Sinaloa martin, Progne sinaloae
  • Cuban martin, Progne cryptoleuca
  • Caribbean martin, Progne dominicensis

Rough-Winged Swallows

  • Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
  • Southern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Swallows of the Andes Mountains

  • Pale-footed swallow, Orochelidon flavipes
  • Brown-bellied swallow, Orochelidon murina
  • Andean swallow, Orochelidon andecola

Swallows of the Neotropics

  • Blue-and-white swallow, Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
  • Black-collared swallow, Pygochelidon melanoleuca

South American Swallows

  • White-banded swallow, Atticora fasciata
  • Black-capped swallow, Atticora pileata
  • White-thighed swallow, Atticora tibialis

Swallows of the Americas

  • Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
  • Bahama swallow, Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
  • Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
  • Golden swallow, Tachycineta euchrysea
  • Mangrove swallow, Tachycineta albilinea
  • White-rumped swallow, Tachycineta leucorrhoa
  • Chilean swallow, Tachycineta meyeni
  • Tumbes swallow, Tachycineta stolzmanni
  • White-winged swallow, Tachycineta albiventer

Tunnel-Nesting Martins

  • Congo martin, Riparia congica
  • Sand martin, Riparia riparia
  • Pale martin, Riparia diluta
  • Brown-throated martin, Riparia paludicola
  • Grey-throated martin, Riparia chinensis

Saw-Wings

  • Square-tailed saw-wing, Psalidoprocne nitens
  • Black saw-wing, Psalidoprocne pristoptera
  • Fanti saw-wing, Psalidoprocne obscura
  • White-headed saw-wing, Psalidoprocne albiceps
  • Mountain saw-wing, Psalidoprocne fuliginosa

River Martins

  • African river martin, Pseudochelidon eurystomina
  • White-eyed river martin, Pseudochelidon sirintarae

Size, Appearance, & Behavior

👁 Swallows have long, streamlined bodies and pointy wings that allow them to hunt and catch their food in the air.

Swallows have long, streamlined bodies and pointy wings that allow them to hunt and catch their food in the air.

©Mirko Graul/Shutterstock.com

The swallow is a small passerine songbird, measuring 3.9 to 9.4 inches and weighing 0.35 to 2.12 ounces, with an 11 to 13-inch wingspan. Although they are passerine birds, their bodies are adapted for hunting by flight. They feature streamlined bodies, long, pointed wings, and eyes similar to a raptor. These birds also have short bills, wide gapes, and long tails. Males and females look similar with glossy dark blue or green plumage on top and heavily streaked white or rufous-colored feathers below. Juveniles are slightly duller versions of adults.

Some species are nonsocial and do not form flocks, while others participate in colonial nesting and form large flocks outside the breeding season. They have many calls and songs, often sounding like musical twittering. These birds are vocal and use their calls to express excitement, communicate with their mate and others in their species, or warn off intruders. Swallows are also strong fliers and use their skills to attract mates. 

Migration Patterns and Timing

Swallows are long-distance migrants. They have a worldwide distribution and an enormous range. For instance, the barn swallow breeds over most of the northern hemisphere and winters in most of the southern hemisphere. They are even vagrants to remote islands and places in the Antarctic.

Diet

Swallows are primarily insectivores and forage on the wing. 

What Does the Swallow Eat?

Their diet consists of grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, spiders, worms, and snails. Some species supplement their diet with berries, plant matter, and seeds. They mainly forage by flying, but you will occasionally see them snatching prey from branches and the ground. Several swallow species will feed together, breaking apart into niches, where some will feed on the ground, and others will forage higher up.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

Several swallow bird species are threatened due to habitat loss. The white-eyed river martin is critically endangered and has not been officially recorded since 1978, leading many to believe it may already be extinct. This species breeds on river banks, a diminishing habitat in Southeast Asia.

The golden swallow, native to the Caribbean, is considered “Vulnerable,” and the Bahama swallow, found in the Bahamas, is “Endangered.” Forest loss and invasive species are the reasons for their decline.

Most other swallow species are listed as “Least Concern.”

What Eats the Swallow?

Hawks, falcons, owls, and kestrels are the main predators of swallows. Their nest predators include grackles, rats, weasels, squirrels, raccoons, bobcats, snakes, domestic cats, bullfrogs, and fish. Although small, they are fierce defenders of their nest and will lunge at intruders and chase away anyone who gets too close.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

👁 These cavity nesting Tree Swallows will not fledge as early as other songbirds and will stay in the nest between 18 to 22 days depending on weather, feeding conditions, and size of the brood.

These cavity-nesting Tree Swallows will not fledge as early as other songbirds and will stay in the nest between 18 and 22 days, depending on weather, feeding conditions, and the size of the brood.

©Steve Byland/Shutterstock.com

Many swallows form monogamous pairs for life. However, some may practice polygamy and take multiple partners. Females lay two to five white eggs and incubate them for 10 to 21 days. Their young take longer to develop than other passerine birds, and the parents coax them out of the nest after three weeks. However, they will keep returning to the nest to roost. Most species reach sexual maturity around one year and have a lifespan between 2 and 16 years.

Population

The global swallow bird population is unknown, but barn swallows alone account for 290 million to 487 million mature individuals. Some populations may be going through slight declines due to changes in agricultural practices, resulting in reduced nesting sites.

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Swallow Pictures

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Sources

  1. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds / Accessed October 23, 2022
  2. Wikipedia / Accessed October 23, 2022

About the Author

Niccoy Walker

Niccoy is a professional writer for A-Z Animals, and her primary focus is on birds, travel, and interesting facts of all kinds. Niccoy has been writing and researching about travel, nature, wildlife, and business for several years and holds a business degree from Metropolitan State University in Denver. A resident of Florida, Niccoy enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time at the beach.
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Swallow FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The swallow inhabits every continent except Antarctica, and some species are vagrants to remote islands and Antarctica. They live in any open habitat, including grasslands and open woodlands.

New World swallow species nest in cavities, and Old World swallows construct mud nests.

The Hirundinidae family contains 21 genera and 89 species.

The swallow is a small passerine songbird, measuring 3.9 to 9.4 inches and weighing 0.35 to 2.12 ounces, with an 11 to 13-inch wingspan.

Swallows are long-distance migrants. It has a worldwide distribution with an enormous range.

Their diet consists of grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, spiders, worms, and snails. Some species supplement their diet with berries, plant matter, and seeds.

Several swallow species are threatened due to forest loss and invasive species.

Hawks, falcons, owls, and kestrels are the main predators of swallows. Their nest predators include grackles, rats, weasels, squirrels, raccoons, bobcats, snakes, domestic cats, bullfrogs, and fish.