Common swallows in the spotlight
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WHEN the swallows fly high, the weather will be dry.”
These swallows, agile insect eaters with tails like scissors are the “weather forecasters” of folklore. Parents often tell their children that when they see swallows flying close to the ground, rain is nigh.
There’s nothing mystical about it, of course. Insects tend to fly lower when bad weather comes, and swallows simply follow their prey.
The swallow is a beloved species in China. Many Chinese poets have written tributes to the birds, and children traditionally sing the song “Little Swallow” to celebrate the coming of spring.
The swallow is a relatively small species of birds with a streamlined body and pointed wings. It possesses remarkable flying skills.
The bird is common throughout the world. It has a symbiotic relationship with humans. The birds help keep insect populations down, and human habitats provide convenient nesting sites, like the nooks and crannies outside homes.
The barn swallow is the most common and widespread species of swallow. These birds prefer habitats in open countryside with farmland, meadows and waterways. They build nests from mud.
Swallows also take advantage of already existing infrastructure such as wires and roof ridges to build nests and provide shelter against bad weather and predators.
But as urban buildings get taller and skyscrapers take the place of old neighborhoods, swallows are retreating to suburban rural areas.
In Yexie, the largest town in Songjiang District, the roofs of many houses in rural areas are dotted with swallow nests. Earlier this month, the birds were in breeding season, with parents either incubating eggs or feeding newly hatched chicks.
The locals welcome the swallows as part of their rural environment. When the birds build their nests above a door, residents often put a paper tray beneath to catch the bird droppings.
Swallows mate for life and non-migratory species often use the same nesting site for their whole life. Both males and females take active roles in raising the young.
The barn swallow’s nest is no larger than the palm of a hand, but it can accommodate up to four or five chicks.
Any trip to the countryside is a good opportunity to watch swallows and see their nesting sites.
The swallows and martins are passerine birds, which includes the majority of bird species. Belonging in the family Hirundinidae. They are found around the world, mostly migratory.
Like swifts, swallows and martins have shorter bills than other birds, but they have strong jaws that can open wide. The tails may separate like scissors, but not in all species.
The eggs are usually flecked white and a clutch can have about four to five eggs, which take about two to three weeks to hatch. The chicks emerge without feathers.
In Shanghai, the common species of swallows in addition to barn swallows include red-rumped swallow, sand martin and Asian house martin.
Bird-watcher’s guide
Barn swallow 家燕
Scientific name: Hirundo rustica
As the most common and widespread species of swallow in the world, the barn swallow can be found on almost all continents. There are seven subspecies.
Their plumage is dark steel blue on the back and white on the chest, rufous on the forehead, chin and throat. The male and female look the same. Barn swallows produce a high pitched “twit, twit” call.
They feed on insects like mosquitos, flies, ants and beetles, and prefer habitats in open areas. The breeding season is from late spring to summer, and they often choose buildings or places with support for their mud nests. The male and female build nests together by collecting mud pellets and other soft materials.
Red-rumped swallow 金腰燕
Scientific name: Cecropis daurica
The red-rumped swallow is found in Asia, Europe and tropical Africa.
The birds look like barn swallows, but with a few differences. The back plumage is steel blue with a bit of chestnut colored feathers. They feed on flying insects and breed in mud nests.
Sand martin 崖沙燕
Scientific name: Riparia riparia
The sand martin is a migratory swallow found in Asia, Europe and North America. It winters over in southern Africa, South America and South Asia.
The bird has brown plumage on the back and white feathers on the throat and breast. It inhabits swamps and sand beaches by rivers or cliffs.
Groups of sand martins nest close together, building nests of straw and feathers. The breeding season is from May to July. In China, most of these birds are non-migratory.
Asian house martin 烟腹毛脚燕
Scientific name: Delichon dasypus
The Asian house martin is a migratory species that breeds in central and eastern Asia during the summer. It winters in Southeast Asia.
Adults have dark blue plumage on their backs and greyish white chests.
The species is adept at catches insects in flight.
The breeding season is from June to August. Asian house martins usually breed in colonies.
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