Swallows are beautiful, graceful and elegant, but they can be hard birds to find and properly identify. Because swallows have very specific requirements for habitats, food and nesting sites, birders who learn those needs and how birds meet them can be better prepared to find more swallows and add them to their life lists.

About Swallows

All swallows, which are also called martins, are members of the bird family Hirundinidae.

While there is great variation among the species' sizes, plumages and ranges, they all have slender builds and long, tapered wings that give them amazing acrobatic flight abilities. While they can be astonishing to watch, that same aerodynamic behavior can also make getting good views and proper identifications difficult. With roughly 80 swallow species around the world, however, birders who better understand how to find swallows can more easily see new examples of these gorgeous birds.

Where, When and How to Find Swallows

Very few swallows or martins are common backyard birds, but they can be easy to find if birders know where, when and how to look for them.

Where

Swallows are insectivorous and hunt on the wing with their agile flight abilities, catching a wide range of insects as they fly. To do this, they need room to maneuver, and the most popular types of habitats where swallows can be easily found include:

• Open, cultivated grassland such as golf courses or large parks
• Large agricultural fields and pastures

• Wild meadows and prairies
• Open, wide water stretches for aerial drinking, such as lakes or reservoirs

Martins and swallows often congregate on open perches as well, such as branching snags in appropriate habitats or straight stretches of wires and wire fences that offer plenty of room for flocks to share. Nesting sites can also be easy to find, as these colonial birds often build tremendous nesting colonies under bridges, overpasses or the wide eaves of large buildings.

In terms of species diversity, the greatest variety of swallows and martins are found in Africa, but at least a few different species can be seen on every continent except Antarctica.

When

Swallows can be spotted at any time of day, but they are most active when insects are most active for better feeding opportunities. Sunny days offer better swallow viewing opportunities because the birds' iridescent plumage colors will be more visible, and warmer days can also be better times to see swallows as insects fly more freely. In the northern hemisphere, swallows are more prevalent during the summer months, and most swallow species are migratory and have more restricted ranges during the winter. During fall migration, huge flocks often gather in staging areas before beginning their journeys south, giving birders great opportunities for observation, and it is important to carefully examine flocks for different swallow species that may be gathering together.

How

Recognizing swallows is a key step in finding them for proper identification. Watching for a slim body shape and acrobatic flight that includes fast, abrupt turns and skimming water can help pinpoint swallows. These birds fly with active wings rather than soaring for long periods, and they may fly low to the ground or higher in the air depending on where insects are most abundant. Because these birds are colonial and frequently gather in flocks, where one swallow is spotted there are likely to be more nearby, giving birders more opportunities to observe the birds from different angles and perspectives. With those better views, it is easier to properly identify swallows and enjoy all that makes them unique.

Swallows in the Backyard

While many swallows do not frequent backyards, some species – such as barn swallows and tree swallows – are comfortable around human habitation. Birders can take several steps to attract swallows, including…

• Minimizing insecticide use so the birds can actively forage.
• Providing suitable open ground for their acrobatic flight.
• Preserving perches such as wires and fine branches for the birds to use.
• Providing safe and appropriate nesting sites, such as purple martin houses.

Swallows can be amazing birds to see, but birders won't find them in deep forests or heavy riparian corridors that are always popular birding hotspots. By understanding where, when and how to find swallows, however, it is easy to add more of these elegant species to a life list.

Photo – Swallows on Wires © Eduardo Fonseca