The Swallow is an insect eating bird of the family Hirundinidae.
The term Swallow is used colloquially in Europe as a synonym for the barn swallow, Hirundo rustica, the most widespread species of swallow in the world.
The barn swallow winters in Africa and visit Europe April to September.
In ancient times it was thought that swallows hibernated in winter. In fact they migrate, flying 12,000 miles to southern Africa and back, covering 200 miles a day and crossing two continents and 14 countries.
A swallow tattoo was once popular with sailors who, traditionally, were permitted to adorn themselves with one after sailing 5,000 nautical miles and a second after 10,000 nautical miles.
In central Africa, tribes catch the migrating birds in vast nests and roast them.
In the 19th century, the French government tried to train swallows to carry messages. The experiment failed.
Steel blue above and creamy white beneath, the barn swallow has a red brown throat and deeply forked tail.
According to Spanish folklore, the red patches on the swallow's throat and face are Jesus' blood, which splashed on one as it tried to remove thorns from his head.
The swallow feeds in-flight, eating flies, moths and butterflies on the wing.
Two broods of swallows a year are reared in nests of mud and straw shaped like a half saucer and built on ledges.
Outside the breeding season, some species of swallows may form large flocks, and species may also roost communally. This is thought to provide protection from predators. These roosts can be enormous; one winter roosting site of barn swallows in Nigeria attracted 1.5 million individuals.
The term Swallow is used colloquially in Europe as a synonym for the barn swallow, Hirundo rustica, the most widespread species of swallow in the world.
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| Pixiebay |
The barn swallow winters in Africa and visit Europe April to September.
In ancient times it was thought that swallows hibernated in winter. In fact they migrate, flying 12,000 miles to southern Africa and back, covering 200 miles a day and crossing two continents and 14 countries.
A swallow tattoo was once popular with sailors who, traditionally, were permitted to adorn themselves with one after sailing 5,000 nautical miles and a second after 10,000 nautical miles.
In central Africa, tribes catch the migrating birds in vast nests and roast them.
In the 19th century, the French government tried to train swallows to carry messages. The experiment failed.
Steel blue above and creamy white beneath, the barn swallow has a red brown throat and deeply forked tail.
 |
| Barn swallow By I, Malene, |
According to Spanish folklore, the red patches on the swallow's throat and face are Jesus' blood, which splashed on one as it tried to remove thorns from his head.
The swallow feeds in-flight, eating flies, moths and butterflies on the wing.
Two broods of swallows a year are reared in nests of mud and straw shaped like a half saucer and built on ledges.
 |
| Pixiebay |
Outside the breeding season, some species of swallows may form large flocks, and species may also roost communally. This is thought to provide protection from predators. These roosts can be enormous; one winter roosting site of barn swallows in Nigeria attracted 1.5 million individuals.
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