Barn Swallow - description, habitat

With the onset of spring, when nature comes to life, the swallows return to their nests. The population of these small migratory birds is considered the largest in our latitudes. The barn swallow likes to settle in close proximity to human habitation. Therefore, from ancient times a lot of folk beliefs are associated with this bird.

In addition, the swallow among the Slavic peoples is one of the main symbols of spring. This bird also personifies peace, prosperity, family well-being. There is such a belief: if a swallow has built a nest under the roof of human habitation, then the family will not know poverty. There are many understandable meanings in these beliefs, because this smart little bird is busy all day long for the extermination of harmful insects.In this simple way, the country swallows bring tangible benefits to man.

Description of the species

Rustic swallows are distinguished by a very attractive appearance: the top of the bird plumage is painted in blue-black tones, and the belly - in a contrasting pale beige shade. On the elegant neck of the herald of spring there are bright specks with a brown tinge. It should be noted that the plumage of a male is colored brighter than that of a female. On this basis it is not difficult to distinguish the "girl" from the "boy." Sexual identity can also be determined by the length of the tail - it is slightly shorter for a female.

An adult individual of the swallow reaches the following parameters:

• weight - up to 20 g;
• body length - about 20 cm;
• wingspan - 30-35 cm.

Where do swallows live

The habitat of the country swallow is quite extensive. The bird is spread on almost all continents.Its nesting sites are found in the north of Africa and America; the bird lives in European regions and Asia. When summer ends, the swallows search for heat and head south to return to their homeland in the spring. Barn Swallows prefer to equip their nests in the countryside. However, it is easy to understand by the name of the species of birds.

Birds make their nests usually on the upper part of the walls of houses, sheds. They feel comfortable in small stables. The village swallows do not like noisy, crowded places, they prefer quiet solitude. Some caring owners, wanting to attract these useful birds, construct structures suitable for nesting especially for them. Such a caring attitude to birds helps preserve the population of these useful birds.

Way of life

For the swallow of the country, day life is habitual. In mid-May, returning after a long winter, she began to arrange her own home. At the end of construction work, in the first days of June, the birds start laying eggs, then they wait for the appearance of offspring.Although this species of swallows breeds in colonies, this does not prevent each individual pair of birds from jealously guarding the borders around their own homes.

The barn swallow is a social bird. Usually, this species forms large flocks in places of settlement. Birds like to gather in groups to rest. At the same time, they often arrange peculiar concerts, sitting down by a chain on wires, and then announce the surroundings with a ringing chirp. In the final part of the performance, a trill sounds pleasant to the person’s ears. Village swallows often fall to the ground, which distinguishes them from other species of this bird. In September, when the approach of the cold is clearly felt, the swallows again gather in large flocks and go for the winter to be closer to the equator.

Swallows feed

The diet of this small bird consists of small insects: mosquitoes, midges, butterflies, dragonflies, flies. In rainy weather, when insects hide, the swallow changes its gastronomic addictions and obtains caterpillars, spiders. These changes explain the characteristic feature of the swallows flying low above the surface of the water before the rain.Insects, feeling the approach of the weather, clouds rush near the water. And the swallows use this situation to their advantage, easily obtaining food for themselves.

I must say that the young swallow chicks are distinguished by their gluttony. For this reason, parents are forced to spend whole days in search of food for their insatiable young. They bring food for babies in the esophagus. To feed the five chicks, adult birds must deliver approximately four hundred servings of food to the nest.

Breeding features

Swallows are recognized by the masters of the construction business. Their nests differ in accuracy and correct forms. For construction they use clay, lumps of earth, remnants of straw. The swallow's nest looks like an open bowl, the inside of which is necessarily lined with feathers and soft grass. Usually the female lays no more than five eggs.

In the process of incubation, the male actively helps her friend. He replaces her in an important post when the expectant mother needs to eat. After 14-18 days, the young appear. Parents take care of the babies for three weeks, they feed them hard. Then young swallows begin an independent life and leave the parent nest.It is interesting that only one brood of a pair of swallows is not limited, under favorable climatic conditions they manage to release their offspring three times in one season.

Interesting Facts

1. If the chicks from the last brood are not strong before the onset of cold weather, the parents do not abandon their young to the mercy of fate. They stay with the babies, waiting for them to be able to make a long flight.
2. Swallows that spend the winter in Africa, go on food ants. They really like this variety.
3. Not all swallows withstand a long journey. During the migration period, many birds die from hunger and fatigue.
4. The life of the barn swallow is always accompanied by a song: she sings in search of food, sings in short moments of rest.
5. And another interesting historical fact. In ancient Rome, after chariot races, the swallows tied the colors of the winner to the paws, and then released it to the sky. This tradition identified the victory of the hero with free flight.

Video: Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)