Welcome to Quare, the educational podcast for young and old alike. Today, in the Science and Nature category, this episode is all about the swallow.
What is a swallow?
It's a small migratory bird, easily recognized by its pointed wings, forked tail, and blue-black plumage with a red or white throat depending on the species. It is a symbol of spring: its return to temperate regions marks the arrival of warmer weather every year.
How big is it and how much does it weigh?
The swallow is a very lightweight little bird. The barn swallow, the most widespread in the world, measures between 17 and 21 cm long, including 6 to 10 cm for its long forked tail feathers. Its wingspan reaches about 33 cm. It weighs only 16 to 22 grams — roughly the weight of a sheet of paper. This lightness is essential for its long migrations and acrobatic flight.
How many species are there?
There are more than 80 species of swallows in the world, found on almost every continent except Antarctica. The best known are the barn swallow, the house martin, and the common swallow. The common swift looks very similar, but belongs to a different family.
Where does it live?
The swallow lives on nearly every continent. The species that nest and breed in temperate regions — Europe, Asia, North America — migrate every autumn to warmer areas to spend the winter. It frequents open areas such as fields, meadows, villages, and riverbanks. It adapts just as well to rural landscapes as to urban environments, as long as it can find insects to hunt and surfaces to nest on.
When is it active?
The swallow is a strictly diurnal bird. It is active from sunrise to sunset and hunts insects throughout the day. It is especially visible in the late afternoon, when insects fly in large numbers at low altitude. At night, it rests in its nest or perched on power lines or branches. In preparation for migration, swallows often gather in large flocks on telephone wires from late summer onward.
What does it eat?
The swallow is insectivorous. It feeds exclusively on insects, which it catches in flight with its open beak. In a single day, it can catch several hundred insects. It almost never lands to eat: it always hunts on the wing.
How does it fly?
The swallow is an exceptional aerial acrobat. It can reach speeds of 50 to 75 km/h and perform sharp turns, dives, and about-faces to catch its prey. Its sickle-shaped wings and forked tail give it remarkable maneuverability.
How does it build a nest?
The swallow builds its nest with mud, straw, and feathers. It carries the materials in its beak and sticks them together to form a cup or half-sphere shape. It often builds its nest under roofs, in barns, stables, or under bridges. Pairs often return to the same spot year after year.
How does it raise its young?
The female lays 3 to 6 eggs per clutch and can have 2 to 3 broods per summer. Both parents take part in incubating and feeding the young. After about 3 weeks, the chicks are ready to fly. They quickly learn to hunt in flight, just like their parents.
Does it live alone?
The swallow is a sociable bird. It sometimes nests in small colonies and often gathers with other swallow species to hunt or rest. Outside the breeding season, it can form very large flocks to migrate or sleep. However, each pair vigorously defends its own nest and does not tolerate intruders coming too close.
What is its life expectancy?
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