Return to Britain in April on trailing tail streamers heralds summer.
What does a Swallow look like?
The swallow is a small, agile bird with characteristic long, forked tail streamers. Adult upperparts and breast band are shiny blue-blacks. The Forehead, chin and most of the throat is a rich blood-red. Underparts are buff-white extending to underwing and under tail coverts. Wings are narrow and elongated. When the tail is spread while braking and turning, it reveals white marks on the outer tail feathers. It has a small bill with a wide mouth, held open as the bird chases insects. The female has shorter tail streamers than the male. Juveniles are similar to adults but have less shiny plumage, a paler head, mottled breast band and no real tail streamers.
![swallow-on-branch Swallow](https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-on-branch.jpg?w=400&h=300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368386&s=358c09b941c29ee6735a863beeb7c139 400w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-on-branch.jpg?w=800&h=600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368386&s=d65a8cfd8ec4b0d1c87f46190d4e8ec4 800w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-on-branch.jpg?w=1200&h=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368386&s=3a09bce9b5db211bdd4cd92c23bba692 1200w)
What does a Swallow sound like?
The swallow is a noisy bird, with loud calls uttered in flight giving a cheerful “vit”. It has a pleasant, warbling song with some rattling notes, and advertises its presence in Britain from mid-April, heralding summer. The alarm call is a loud, short “chit”.
![swallow-flying-1 Swallow](https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-flying-1.jpg?w=400&h=300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368384&s=0f1bca7a374d70bfb897f610cc962f90 400w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-flying-1.jpg?w=800&h=600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368384&s=e6b48555cb7cd007063e9224269c46e4 800w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-flying-1.jpg?w=1200&h=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368384&s=4d22e86e6dd1be39bed20eca019beeac 1200w)
What does a Swallow eat?
Swallows prefer to look for flying insects over old pasture, agriculture crops, along hedges, woodland edge and over water. They will take insects on the wing. They will also eat mosquitoes and bees.
Where can I see Swallows?
Swallows are summer visitors to Britain and Ireland, mainly seen from April to October. They often roost communally in reed-beds outside of the breeding season, and this can be a good place to look for pre-migration flocks. They are usually found where there is a good supply of small insects such as open pasture with access to water.
![swallow-flying Swallow](https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-flying.jpg?w=400&h=300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368385&s=e54640befc6d635c492a552e1c0d2b91 400w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-flying.jpg?w=800&h=600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368385&s=58aa7002dc33496376598b7f74456668 800w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-flying.jpg?w=1200&h=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368385&s=2e2ec769132825540fda739feb4f4486 1200w)
Signs and spotting tips
The swallow’s red face is surprisingly difficult to see from a distance, and the bird will appear mostly all dark in flight. The flight is fast and powerful with clipped wing beats.
How does a Swallow breed?
In the UK, swallows have generally started breeding by early June. By July, most young will have left the nest. Parents then raise another brood, followed sometimes by a third. The mud and straw nest is usually built-in recesses inside building and under bridges.
For a full guide on Barn swallow nesting, check out this article.
![swallow-nest Swallows Nest](https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-nest.jpg?w=400&h=300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368385&s=8c9dc52694336dc641118fe31b10959d 400w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-nest.jpg?w=800&h=600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368385&s=046bcd1fa25be1a752b5fbb8230e124a 800w, https://images.birdfact.com/production/swallow-nest.jpg?w=1200&h=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1615368385&s=eac06d7c4b2f164b5a833140387c5a49 1200w)
Swallows Nest
How long do Swallows live for?
The swallow can live for up to 16 years, but the average lifespan is around 2 years.
Do Swallows migrate?
The swallow is migratory, overwintering in the southern half of Africa.
In September and October, swallows gather in their thousands in preparation for their migration. It is the traditional harbinger of summer, returning by mid-April. They return to the same nest site each year. Males arrive first in order to guard their territory.
To find out more about the migration behavior of barn swallows, check out this complete guide.
Threats and conservation
UK conservation status is Green. There are 860,000 breeding territories in the UK.