Swallows - small birds, belong to the family of swallows in the order of passerines. Their difference from other passerines is long wings and tails. The beak is short, flat, expanding to the base, almost triangular, with a slightly bent end.
Legs are short, weak and with tiny claws. The feathers are short, tight-fitting to each other, with a characteristic metallic luster. Females and males differ little in color of plumage. Chicks, on the contrary, in the first days of life are very different in color from adults.
Habitat swallows
Swallows live in almost all parts of the world. For hot countries, these are settled birds; for northern regions, migratory swallows. When frosts come, the bird flies warmer to the edges, and in the spring comes back again. Usually swallows try to return to their last year’s nests. And if these are young birds, then they will certainly begin to build a family nest.
How many species of swallows and where do they live?
There are 79 species of swallows. A large number of swallows find shelter in people's homes, some settle on rocks and cliffs, and swallows choose trees for arranging their nests.
Most species have adapted to build strong nests; outside the walls are made of clay lumps saturated with sticky saliva. Some species with great difficulty dig holes in the soil of earthen cliffs, make expansion at the end and equip a nest there, mainly nests consist of a large number of feathers piled in a heap. In the clutch there are usually 3-5 eggs that only the female incubates.
Swallows are usually called noble birds, since in the physiological and aesthetic sense they are perfectly gifted. These birds spend the bulk of their lives in flight. They rest in the trees, sitting on branches and knots without leaves, so that it would be easy to fly in and fly out.
Swallows are songbirds. They are very intelligent and intelligent. Arriving in a new area, they carefully study it. Swallows have learned to distinguish friends from enemies and will be trusted only to those who cause their trust.
Under the roof of the house a nest is curling a small and very beautiful bird. This swallow has chosen your home. Since childhood, this bird has been familiar to everyone, personifying hope, fidelity and rebirth.
The attitude to the swallow in people is especially reverent and warm. No wonder a good-natured and sympathetic person is called a “swallow”.
Where do swallows build nests?
Some species of swallows have taken root so close to humans that they build their nests closer to people. However, birds prefer villages rather than large cities. In village settlements, swallows predominantly choose small but fairly open structures. Stables, awnings, all kinds of terraces, etc. are suitable for building nests for birds. But their favorite place remains the roof of the house.
Swallow nests can be found in the wild. Birds settle in the desert or a spacious steppe. But this happens on the condition that there are no places suitable for construction nearby. Swallow nests are found even under the ceilings of grottoes, under large branches of trees and even under large nests of feathered predators.
Swallows are considered skillful builders. They build nests from lumps of wet soil. Birds find wet land on the shores of lakes and rivers. Urban swallows collect dirt in puddles. Finding wet ground, the bird rolls it into a ball with its beak. Wet round lumps are firmly attached to the wall. For gluing, the swallow uses its own saliva.
Between the balls are laid blades of grass, thin twigs, horse hair and other similar materials. The finished nest inside is covered with down and soft blades of grass.A swallow house shaped like a deep cup. Both male and female are involved in the construction of the nest.
Only after the construction is completed does the romantic period of courtship games begin. The males tell the female about their love with pleasant twittering. And she, in turn, dutifully accepts his offer. Swallows are considered monogamous birds. A pair is created once and for all.
Chicks
Birds form their family in early spring. The female incubates an average of five tiny testicles per clutch. Chicks hatch in three weeks. Kids are defenseless and not at all adapted to the environment. Therefore, parental care is so important to them. The only activity of the appeared chicks is to open the beak wide and demand food.
From dawn to dusk, parents prey on various insects. Thanks to caring adults, chicks grow at an unprecedented rate. Well-fed small swallows make their first soaring in less than a month. Despite the fact that the chicks have grown, the swallows parents continue to feed them. All kinds of bugs, flies and even butterflies are included in their diet.
Features swallows
One feature helps to feed their offspring to adults well. The fact is that swallows catch insects on the fly. This greatly reduces feed search time. Due to this property, birds destroy a large number of harmful insects. People appreciate the swallows for this, because where the swallows are, there is a good harvest.
These brisk birds not only forage for themselves on the fly, but also eat and even sleep. It is beautiful to observe how swallows scoot over the pond, capturing the water with its beak on the fly. Swallows spend most of their lives hovering in midair. They rarely sink to the ground, since they are almost not able to move on the surface.
Despite their tiny size, the swallows are very hardy and have enormous endurance. They are able to fly over great distances. Long flights require unprecedented strength and patience. Indeed, migration always carries all sorts of dangers and difficulties.
What do they eat?
Swallows are insectivorous birds. They feed on mosquitoes, flies, as well as small bugs. Catch insects and drink water only on the fly.
How many swallows live?
As for life expectancy, then swallows can live up to eight years. As a rule, urban birds, due to polluted ecology, live less than rural ones. There are several signs associated with swallows.
What is the difference between a city swallow and a village swallow?
Those who like to watch the swallows fly must have noticed the difference between them. Indeed, in nature there are several species of these fast-flying birds. Many people know that swallows are urban, rural and coastal. They have both differences and similarities.
The city swallow, or in another way a funnel, has a tail a little shorter than that of its relative. A distinctive feature of this genus is the blue-black back and white breast. Barn swallows have a long fork in the tail. On the forehead and on the neck is full of reddish plumage. They look pretty larger than urban ones. They like to affectionately call the killer whale a killer whale. Killer whale from the funnel is still distinguished by the sharp tips of the wings and a fairly wide beak. Spiky wings allow killer whales to demonstrate virtuoso flight.
Signs related to swallows
For example, if swallows arrived in early spring, then in the fall there will be a good grain harvest, and if you are late for arrival, you can not wait for a generous harvest. Before rain, these birds begin to fly low above the surface of the earth. And before a clear and warm day their cheerful and sonorous twittering is heard.
A flock of swallows at all times was considered a very favorable sign. If you notice a flock of flocks above your head, then you will be happy.If swallows scurry around your home - wait for luck. And if the flock flies over the lovers, then the couple is waiting for a great mutual love.
Swallow Vision
The swallow has very good eyesight. She perfectly sees at a distant distance a tiny insect in flight, pursuing him with her eyes only. Barn swallow equips a nest in the building so that it is covered from above by a roof. It happens that large companies settle in such places. The nest is like a quarter of an empty ball. On average, a couple takes eight days to build a nest. Stems, hair, feathers and other soft materials are spread inside the nest. The nest of swallows can serve several years and subsequent generations.
Noteworthy species of swallows
Barn Swallow
The upper torso and goiter are dark blue, with a metallic sheen. The throat and forehead are a bright chestnut color. The bottom is a light yellowish color. Females differ in paler shades from males. Barn swallows are found throughout Europe, in western and central Asia.
This is a species of swallows from ancient times used to man and his house. Her affection for the human home made her our love, and in the northern countries they taught people to consider the arrival of a swallow the beginning of spring, and the departure - the beginning of a dull autumn.
City swallow
The whole body of the city swallow is covered with blue-black feathers, only the tail from below is white. Eyes are brown, beak is almost black. The nestlings have black plumage. City swallow is found almost in the same place as the village swallow and also a little north. This type of swallows builds nests only on buildings, with protection from above from the rain. The shape of the nest resembles the shape of a nest of a village swallow. The construction of the nest lasts 10-15 days.
Shore
The feathers above are earthy brown in color; bottom - white with a brown-ashy strip on the chest. Shoreline is common in most areas, it settles mainly on steep banks. With great effort, they dig deep minks in dense soil for nests, and most often along the top of the slope so that water does not flood them.
Common Tailed Swallow
The wings are narrow and long, the tail is long in the shape of a fork. The beak is short, triangular in shape. Legs are short and weak, but with tenacious claws. Thanks to which swallows cling to walls and cliffs. The upper body is dark, with a blue glow, and the bottom is light.
Swallows are monogamous birds, partners remain faithful to each other for one season. In the northern regions, swallows make one clutch per year, in the southern - 2 clutches.
Swallows are quite stable and well tolerate various loads. These birds bring great benefits to humans by exterminating small insects that other birds - mosquitoes and flies - do not eat.
