Sara's Avian Safari Home Page

Research on the Swallow

Habitat: The swallow leaves its summer home in late autumn to winter in Africa, since there is a shortage of insects in these temperate zones. Unlike other migrating birds that molt, after breeding, the swallow waits to molt until it reaches its winter home. Swallows "winter" in flocks of hundreds or thousands of birds, roosting on wires in cities and reeds. It returns to the same nest site each year and also mates with the same partner. The older swallows arrive first, followed by the younger, juvenile birds. Non-breeding birds remain within a few miles of their parents' nest sites.

Food & Feeding: The swallow prefers small flies as its main food source, but it might also go after other flying insects. Obviously, in colder weather, it has to search longer for food due to the shortage of edible insects. The swallow searches for food over water because most of the insects that do fly in bad weather fly over water. The swallow occasionally supplements its diet with caterpillars when food is short. The swallow carries extra food in its mouth to feed its chicks. To do this, the parent "molds" the food into a ball and stores it in its mouth. A pair of swallows can bring about 400 separate meals a day to its chicks.

Breeding: The swallow is a sociable bird for most of the year. When it is breeding, however, it is very solitary. Several pairs may rest under one roof, but each pair defends only a small area of the enclosure. Food becomes plentiful in spring, when mating starts. The female lays three to six eggs after the nest is built. After the eggs are hatched (about thirteen to sixteen days), the babies fledge after about 21 days. During this period, both parents feed the chicks. There may be two or three broods during a good year. The young from earlier broods of the sparrow help in the rearing of the young.