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Hirundo rustica
| Size | 17â19 cm (plus tail streamers) Smaller than a sparrow but with a much longer forked tail |
|---|---|
| Weight | 16â22 g About the weight of a large strawberry |
| Lifespan | 4 years |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | Males have longer tail streamers than females; both are iridescent blue-black above with red-orange throat |
| Habitat | Open countryside, farmland, near water â nests in barns and outbuildings |
| Best time | AprilâSeptember |
| Conservation | UK: Amber LC |
Did you know?
Swallows migrate from the UK to sub-Saharan Africa and back every year â a round trip of up to 20,000 km â navigating using the Earth's magnetic field and sun position
Swallows migrate from the UK to sub-Saharan Africa and back every year â a round trip of up to 20,000 km â navigating using the Earth's magnetic field and sun position
More for experts
Female swallows prefer males with longer, more symmetrical tail streamers â the streamers are an honest signal of parasite resistance and immune health
Often confused with
Swift (all dark, no red throat, screaming call, never perches), House Martin (white rump, shorter forked tail)
Swift (all dark, no red throat, screaming call, never perches), House Martin (white rump, shorter forked tail)