Bird of the Week - Swallow
Swallows are beautiful, agile birds often associated with spring and summer. These birds belong to the swallow family and are found worldwide. In this blog post, you'll learn more about the swallow and its impressive characteristics.
Appearance
Swallows have a distinctive appearance with slender bodies, short beaks, and long, pointed wings. Most swallows have shiny, metallic plumage in blue, black, or green. Their distinctive long tail is typical of swallows and allows them to maneuver quickly and nimbly in the air. The average swallow size is about 15 cm. 
Habitat and distribution
Swallows live in a variety of habitats, including forests, wetlands, deserts, and even cities and suburbs. Most swallows breed in Europe, Asia, and North America, but there are also species in Africa, South America, and Australia.
Behave
Swallows are known for their agile flight maneuvers, which they use to hunt flying insects. These birds fly at high speeds and with rapid changes of direction to catch their prey. Swallows are also known for breeding in colonies, often building their nests on buildings, bridges, and other structures.
Breeding behavior
Swallows' breeding behavior is unique. They build their nests from clay, grass, and other materials and lay their eggs in them. Female swallows typically lay four to five eggs, which are incubated in about two weeks. After hatching, the young remain in the nest for about three weeks before fledging. 
Threat and protection
Some swallow species are endangered, particularly in Europe and North America. Many swallow species are suffering from habitat loss due to increasing urbanization and habitat destruction. Swallows also struggle with environmental pollution and climate change. 
Many countries have programs to protect swallows, including protecting their nesting sites and promoting breeding colonies. Many people build special nest boxes to provide a safe home for swallows and help them raise their young.
In Germany there are five species of swallow that occur regularly:
-
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica): The Barn Swallow is the best-known and most common swallow species in Germany. It breeds in stables, barns, and buildings and feeds on flying insects.
-
House Martin (Delichon urbicum): The house martin prefers to breed on buildings and can be recognized by its white belly and blue wings.
-
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia): The sand martin digs its nesting tubes into sandy banks of rivers, lakes and gravel pits.
-
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus): The Rough-legged Buzzard is a bird of prey that breeds in northern Germany and feeds on small mammals, birds and insects.
-
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus): The Pallid Swift is a migratory bird and breeds on cliffs in southern and southeastern Europe. It is rarely seen in Germany.
All five swallow species are protected and threatened due to habitat loss and the decline of insect populations. It is important to protect and conserve their habitats to ensure their survival.
Conclusion
Swallows are fascinating birds with unique characteristics. Their agile flight maneuvers and characteristic nests make them a distinctive species. It is important to work to protect swallows and their habitats to ensure these beautiful birds can continue to be seen in our skies.