swallow

hirundo rustica

• Swooping graceful flight
   
• Long wings
   
• Long, forked tail
   
• Autumn juveniles have shorter tail streamers
   
• At rest look for cream underside
   
• Dark-red throat and forehead; (more of a rusty-buff colour in juveniles)
   
• Call is a cheerful “vit, vit” in flight and a rapid twittering song.
   

Where found

Open country, usually near water and houses. It builds its nests on ledges, beams and joists in sheds and outbuildings.

Gathers in restless flocks in autumn on telephone wires and with martins over marshes and reedbeds.
 

When to look for

• A summer visitor from April.
   
• One of the latest summer visitors to return to Africa.
   
• Most depart by late September