A bird associated with the beginning of spring? The song of the swallow not only heralds the arrival of this season, but also consists of a kind of very rapid musical chatter/trill that usually ends in a “su-seer,” where the second note is higher than the first.
Characteristics and distribution of the swallow
Its scientific name is Hirundo rustica, from the Hirundinidae family, known for being a species with widespread distribution around the world. It is known that this passerine bird inhabits Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and parts of Australasia.
According to specialists in biological sciences, swallows are distinguished by their grace and agility in flight, as well as their ability to build complex and elegant nests.
While they use human-made structures during their breeding season, they do build their nest in a cup shape using mud pellets for such architectural arrangement.
Behavior and symbolism of swallows
Being very territorial birds, swallows have a protective behavior regarding their offspring and nesting; they bravely defend their chicks from predators and always return to their nest, showing loyalty to both the site and the cave where they decided to breed.
They are social birds of open fields with a tendency to form colonies, and their arrival is generally interpreted as a symbol of rebirth. Additionally, the swallow holds a special place in culture and popular literature, representing freedom, speed, and beauty.
Spectacle in skies and urban areas
With their shiny plumage and aerodynamic shape, swallows offer a common spectacle in skies, meadows, and urban areas worldwide, where they feed on insects and small invertebrates.
They are very agile birds with short legs and black beaks, featuring a metallic blue upper part, while their forehead, chin, and throat are reddish in color.
How long do swallows live?
In the wild, swallows are more likely to live less than 5 years due to a variety of predators: foxes, hawks, owls, seagulls, and cats are some of them.
Under such conditions, they can live an average of 3 years, if they are lucky enough not to be devoured before. They usually lay 3 or 4 eggs in each nest and raise 3 or 4 chicks.
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