A mobile representative of the passerine family. There are many fairy tales and legends about her. It is believed that the bird brings happiness and prosperity to the house, under the roof of which it has built a nest. The bird becomes a talisman against fires and thieves. Therefore, it is impossible to ruin the dwelling of swallows in any case. According to the sign, misfortunes and troubles will not keep you waiting.
Swallow habitat and description
The bird belongs to the swallow family, which has almost 80 species. Most of them live in warm countries:
- Europe;
- Asia;
- America;
- Central Africa.
On the territory of Russia there are about 10 species.
Swallows belong to the class of migratory birds. However, individuals inhabiting hot countries do not leave their usual habitats for wintering. In warm climates, food and water are available throughout the year. What can not be said about northern regions.
The swallow is one of the few birds that can catch insects in flight and forage for food in the air. This is facilitated by anatomical features - a slender, streamlined body, a wide and short beak. Birds feed mainly on flying insects: flies, dragonflies, beetles.
Depending on the species, swallows differ slightly from each other in color and lifestyle. However, all birds have some common characteristics:
- color - tail, wings, back are dark blue or black with a metallic sheen;
- beak - wide, opens very wide;
- body - slender, oblong, streamlined;
- chest - wide, with lighter plumage;
- wings - long, narrow;
- the tail is long in almost all species (sometimes a little shorter in females);
- paws - short, weak.
There are practically no differences in color between adults and young of both sexes. Sometimes the plumage of males is slightly more contrasting.
Some species are very miniature - they weigh only 10-12 g, grow up to 9-10 cm. The mass of larger individuals is 50-65 g. The body length reaches 24 cm. The wingspan is 35 cm.
A distinctive feature of all swallows is their flight speed, which is 120 km / h. In terms of agility and speed, birds are second only to swifts. Birds are very similar to each other both externally and in their way of life. Members of these families most they spend time in flight: they hunt, feed the chicks, mate, and sometimes sleep.
Lively and frisky birds do not live very long - a maximum of 4 years. Although there are exceptions. Cases have been recorded when the life expectancy of swallows was almost 8 years.
Types of swallows
The swallow family is diverse and includes many genera. The most common:
The second name of birds is funnels. Includes three subspecies. Lives in Europe, Asia, Russia. The most common species both in terms of the number of representatives and the range. Most often they settle near human habitation (under the roofs of houses), sometimes on sheer cliffs, in mountain crevices. City swallows - migratory birds. Overcome long distances, migrating to wintering places. Usually it is Africa (from the Sahara to South Africa).
A distinctive feature is plumage. The color of the back is blue-black or just black, the belly and chest are white. The tail is somewhat shorter than that of representatives of other genera. Body length is 10-14 cm. Weight usually does not exceed 20 g.
- barn swallow
The second name is the killer whale. Not afraid of people and often settles in countryside, equipping a nest under the roofs of houses. Distinctive features:
- long tail, forked at the end;
- long wings, pointed and curved at the end;
- plumage blue-black with a metallic sheen;
- chest and abdomen light beige;
- red-brown feathers on the forehead and neck.
Usually birds reach 20-24 cm in length. Weigh no more than 20 g.
The range is very wide, because the birds easily adapt to various conditions. Individuals breed in the area North America, Eurasia (excluding regions in the subarctic and arctic climate zone). They fly to Mexico for the winter, countries South America, Africa and Asia. Small detachments make the flight and wait out the cold on the northern coast of Australia.
Birds usually return to the same place to breed. They can build a nest near human habitation, outbuildings, on rocks. The main thing is that there is a source of water nearby and a sufficient amount of food - beetles, flies, mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Birds are diurnal, most of which they spend in flight. They nest in small colonies. They build nests from clay or mud mixed with twigs and feathers. They are distinguished by beautiful singing, which at first resembles a chirp and ends with a trill.
- Coastal swallow, or shorebird
A bird that lives in Russia, Europe, Asia and other regions. Not found only in Australia and Antarctica. The smallest representative of the swallow family:
- body length does not exceed 13 cm;
- weight - 15 g;
- wingspan - up to 28 cm.
The color is unremarkable - brownish-gray. The chest is greyish, with a dark stripe. The wings and tail are slightly darker than the back.
Birds prefer to settle in colonies on cliffs near water bodies. The soil should be soft or sandy. The fact is that shorebirds equip nests in holes (the length can reach one and a half meters). They hunt in large packs.
Beregovushki breed chicks once a year. The number of eggs in one clutch rarely exceeds four. The offspring appears after two weeks, and after another year it becomes independent and leaves the nest.
Swallow breeding
The body structure of swallows is ideal for existence in the air, but makes the birds clumsy on the ground. They rarely sit on the ground and do not feel very confident - it is difficult to walk on small paws. Therefore, swallows spend almost all the time in the air. Perhaps that is why they live very little.
As mentioned earlier, birds prefer to settle and hunt in packs. But they are monogamous. A couple usually spends their entire lives together. Sometimes males who have not found a female join already established families. They incubate the eggs and take care of the chicks.
The mating season begins with the onset of heat, at the beginning of summer. Males attract females with loud chirping. They show off their plumage, fluffing their tail. Both parents build a nest of clay, grass and fluff. They also take care of the chicks together.
Sand martins build their nests along the banks of rivers, small streams and water channels. Urban (and their number as a result of the growth of human cities has become more than coastal ones) build their dwellings under roofs on the walls of buildings, houses, structures, bridges. Even the case of a nest on a ferry, which constantly moves along the rivers, has been recorded.
Swallows choose a section of the wall for the nest, which is covered either by a roof, or by a canopy, or by the relief of a building. Thus, the nest is protected from the weather from above. The nest itself, if people do not destroy it, the swallows do not leave, but breed offspring in it for several years. The nest is additionally strengthened or completed by a swallow, if required. Often several nests are located nearby, because as swallows settle in groups of families, dozens of nests can be located nearby in one place.
semi-circular nest these birds are made from pieces of earth, pebbles and, with the help of their sticky saliva, are fixed on the wall. The entrance remains from the side-top, and inside the bottom and walls are laid with grass, wool, fluff and others. soft materials to be found. The nest is built by both the female and the male. They capture wet dirt, pieces of earth, clay and attach it to the wall. The birds do this in turn, while the male collects construction material, the female is near the unfinished nest and guards it. Then the birds change places, in turn. This is what birds do to prevent sparrows from entering the nest. Sparrows are competitors, and love to take over the swallow's nest.
The nest building process continues for two weeks. This is due to forced breaks in construction. Having stuck a part of the earth, the swallows leave the structure for a day or two, allowing it to dry. If this is not done, the damp earth may collapse, and all work will have to be started anew.
Usually offspring appear twice per season. Incubation of eggs (4-7 per clutch) lasts about two weeks. Newly hatched, helpless chicks require constant attention and feeding. Sometimes parents have to fly out of the nest for food up to 300 times a day.
After three weeks, the chicks become independent and leave the nest. A year later, they reach puberty and start their own families. It is noteworthy that juveniles breed fewer young than older ones.
Swallows are very friendly, they are not afraid to build nests near human habitation. However, they are not adapted to life in captivity. Even a chick that has not learned to fly will struggle to escape from the hands of a person.
Nutrition
The main dish is flying insects. Their bird grabs in the air at a height of 15-20 meters above the ground. When it rains, the swallows do not come out to hunt, but wait out. Birds try not to fly far from the nest while looking for food. All work on catching flies, bugs and other insects is usually carried out within a radius of up to 500 meters from the nesting site.
Insects included in the diet: grasshoppers, flies, butterflies, cicadas, relics, horseflies, mosquitoes, bugs, sometimes spiders. Wasps and bees are not included in the diet, because. they are poisonous to birds.
Swallow Enemies
The main enemy is the Hobby Falcon. This bird of prey preys on swallows. Its flight speed is the same and even higher, so it has the ability to attack. Other birds of prey are often simply unable to catch up with the swallow in flight due to its high speed. The falcon lies in wait for her on the banks of the reservoir, when the swallow collects building material for the nest.
swallow bird very interesting bird. According to ancient beliefs, it is believed that if this bird builds a nest under the roof of a person’s house, then there will be comfort and happiness in this house. There are also a lot of stories, fairy tales and even legends about this bird.
Features and habitat of the swallow
Almost all of these birds live in hot regions. big variety of swallows in the central one. Asia can also be attributed to the habitat. You can meet these birds in cold countries.
The fact where he lives bird influences that migratory swallow or not. If the swallow lives in hot countries, then it is not migratory. If the bird lives in northern countries, then with the onset of frost it needs to fly to where it is warmer.
The bird belongs to the passerine family. Swallows spend almost their entire lives in flight. This bird is able to eat, drink, mate and even sleep in the air. There are many swallow species, and they all have common similarities:
- wide and small beak, especially at the base;
- characterized by a large mouth;
- birds have very long and at the same time narrow wings;
- birds have a wide chest;
- rather graceful body;
- short paws on which the bird can weakly move on the ground;
- dense plumage throughout the body;
- typical metallic sheen on the back;
- the coloration of chicks and adult birds is the same;
- there are no differences in external characteristics between males and females;
- the birds are small, from 9 to 24 cm long;
- the weight of the birds reaches from 12 to 65 grams;
- wingspan 32-35 cm.
Swallow species
sand swallow. For all external characteristics similar to all other swallows. The back is brown, with a gray stripe on the chest. The size of these birds is much smaller than other varieties of this species. Body length up to 130 mm, body weight 15 grams. This species lives in America, Europe and Asia, Brazil, India and Peru.
Shore swallows
The swallow keeps along the coastline and cliffs of reservoirs. Pairs of birds look for soft soil on the slopes of cliffs and dig tunnels in them for housing. If, while digging, they come across dense ground, they stop digging this hole and start a new one.
Their burrows can reach up to 1.5 meters in length. The mink burrows horizontally, and a nest is built accordingly at the bottom. The nest is covered with fluff and feathers of various birds, twigs and hair.
Birds lay eggs once a year, their number is up to 4 pieces. The eggs are incubated for about two weeks. The birds take care of the chicks for three and a half weeks, after which the chicks leave the parental home.
Birds nest in whole colonies. Sand martins also hunt in colonies, rushing over meadows and reservoirs in one direction, then in the other.
sand swallow
city swallow. The bird of the city swallow has a slightly shorter tail, a white uppertail and a white belly. The paws of the bird are also covered with white feathers. Body length equals 145 mm, body weight up to 19 grams.
inhabits city swallow in Europe, Sakhalin, Japan and Asia. of this species settle in the crevices of rocks and mountains. However, more and more often these birds build their nests under the roofs of human dwellings and high-rise buildings.
Pictured is a city swallow
barn swallow. The bird of this species has a slightly elongated body, a very long and forked tail, sharp wings and a very wide beak. The body length is up to 240 mm, and the weight is about 20 grams. Red plumage on throat and forehead. This bird is migratory.
Builds nests in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. IN vivo birds nest in caves. IN last years birds began to build nests in the dwellings of people. Swallows especially like village dwellings. Every year the birds return to their former nesting place.
The nest is built from mud, which is collected on the banks of rivers, so that the mud does not dry out during the flight, swallows moisten it with saliva. Twigs and feathers are also used to build a nest. The diet of swallows includes flies and mosquitoes. This species of swallows is not at all afraid of humans, and often flies next to them.
barn swallow
The nature and lifestyle of swallows
Since swallows are partly migratory birds, they make long flights twice a year. It often happens that due to bad weather conditions, entire flocks of birds die. Almost the entire life of swallow birds takes place in the air, they very rarely rest.
Their limbs are practically not adapted for movement on the ground, which is why they descend on them only to collect material for making a nest. Of course, they can move on the ground only very slowly and awkwardly. But in the air, these birds feel very free, they can fly very low above the ground and very high in the sky.
Among passerines, this is the fastest flying bird, second only to the swallow bird -. Swifts are often confused with swallows, in fact, the bird is very similar to a swallow. swallow speed is 120 km/h. She has a very beautiful voice, singing resembles a chirping, which ends with a trill.
Birds hunt for insects and beetles, which are also caught in flight. The diet of birds also includes grasshoppers and crickets. Almost 98% of the total food of swallows are insects. Birds also feed their chicks on the fly.
Reproduction and lifespan
Birds are monogamous, create strong pairs and for a long time. Sometimes, of course, there are cases of polygamous relationships among swallows. Pairs are formed with the advent of spring. If the pair formed well and the brood last year was good, pairs can be kept for many years. Males attract the attention of females by spreading their tails and chirping loudly.
Swallow chicks
If the males do not find a mate during the mating season, then they join other pairs. Such males can build a nest, incubate eggs, and eventually converge with females, forming polygamous pairs.
The mating season for birds begins in early summer. During the season, the female can breed two broods. Both parents are involved in the construction of the home. Construction begins with the construction of a frame using mud, which is wrapped around with grass and feathers.
The female lays 4-7 eggs. The eggs are incubated by the male and female incubation period is up to 16 days. The chicks hatch almost helpless and naked.
Both parents carefully care for the chicks, feed and clean the nest from droppings. Chicks eat more than 300 times a day. Swallow birds for children catch midges, before giving them to their chicks, adult birds roll food into a ball.
Pictured is a nest of swallows
The chicks stay in the nest for up to three weeks, until they begin to fly. If the chick falls into the hands of a person, he desperately tries to take off even if he cannot fly. Having learned to fly fully, young swallows leave their parental nest and join adult flocks.
Sexual maturity occurs in swallows as early as next year after birth. Young birds give smaller offspring than adults. Medium life span of swallows is up to 4 years. There are exceptions when birds live up to eight years.
The swallow is a very beautiful and friendly bird. They build their dwellings right in the houses of people, while they do not fear for their lives and the lives of their chicks. Many people do not even try to drive the birds out of their homes. What bird how not Martin can be so friendly.
In the section on the question of how long does a swallow incubate eggs? ? On my balcony under the floor, a swallow has built a nest! given by the author growth the best answer is Swallows lay 4-6 eggs and the female and male take turns incubating their clutch
within 15 days, hatched chicks are also fed by both parents
about 20-25 days, after which they are ready to go on an independent flight.
Answer from Name of names[guru]
The nest of swallows, built in a protected place, serves them for many, many years, not only for the builders themselves, but also for subsequent generations. Some shortcomings in the construction are carefully corrected by a couple before the eggs are hatched. The inner lining is carefully renewed each time. Otherwise, the building does not change during the entire time of its existence. In May, the female lays 4-6 tender eggs 20 mm long and 14 mm wide, with a thin shell, covered with pure white background ashy and red-brown specks. She incubates them without the help of a male and, in good weather, hatches chicks after 12 days. In bad, especially cold and rainy weather, she must leave her eggs for several hours in order to get herself the necessary food, and then it may happen that the chicks hatch only after 17 days. Wide-mouthed chicks are diligently fed by both parents, grow rapidly with favorable conditions, soon begin to look over the edge of the nest, and if everything goes well, they can follow their parents as early as the third week of their life. Then the parents feed them for some more time.
City, coastal or village swallow - all these are varieties of an amazing and unusual bird, familiar to us from childhood. There are legends, songs and good children's tales about her. According to legend, these birds make nests above the windows of those people in whose houses comfort, peace and love reign. From the article you will learn where they live, what are the features of behavior and nutrition. And also about how offspring are bred.
Everyone knows from childhood that swallows are heat-loving birds that fly away to warm countries. While cold reigns in our latitudes, these birds live in Europe, as well as in Asia and the USA.
A large population of swallows lives on the African continent. There are birds in the harsh European regions, but much less often. If the homeland of birds is a warm land, they do not need to leave their country. Therefore, such populations lead a sedentary lifestyle, that is, in one place.
The situation is different with birds living in a country with a climate similar to ours. IN winter period heat-loving creatures, like swallows, fly to sunny regions for food and familiar comfort.
Distinctive features
Swallow (hirundinidae) is a bird from the swallow family. She spends almost her entire life flying. While flying, she eats, drinks, sleeps and even mates.
This type of bird is distinguished by the following features:
- tail in the form of a fork;
- wide beak of small size;
- big mouth;
- elongated and narrow wings;
- wide chest;
- graceful outlines of the body;
- short legs that do not allow the bird to walk a lot;
- metal overflows of plumage in the back area;
- the same color of adults and chicks (on the back - the color is dark, on the belly - beige, white);
- wingspan up to 35 cm;
- characteristic sounds "fit-fit", which serve to lure a partner or as an alarm.
Science knows about 80 species of swallows. The peculiar structure of the body makes the bird maneuverable. So, in flight, she gets her livelihood even fast moving insects. Among them are crickets, beetles, mosquitoes, flies, dragonflies and grasshoppers. A wide beak and a capacious mouth allow you to feed without stopping the flight.
Varieties of birds
Real sky swallows are often confused with swifts. The latter do not belong to this family, although outwardly they are very similar.
Swallows unite nearly a hundred various kinds. Among them: African (river, white-eyed, dark, rocky), red-lumbar and white-backed, eastern and Nepalese funnels, songbirds, New Guinea, black-and-red, threadtails, rural and urban, white-fronted and purple, mountain and forest, American wood.
The sand martin differs from its relatives in the brown color of the back with a characteristic longitudinal stripe. gray color located on the chest. The size of the birds is small (130 mm), and the mass is no more than 15 g. They live near water bodies on the shore, where they dig holes in which they settle.
Barn swallow (killer whale) is characterized by a more elongated body, a long forked tail and pointed wings. Its beak is wide, and the plumage on the forehead and throat of the bird is colored reddish.
The weight of barn swallows is 20 g, and the dimensions are up to 240 mm. This species is incapable of silence. Continuous singing is their main distinguishing feature.
The tail of the city swallows is shorter, their abdomen, the area above it and the paws are white. The dimensions of the body of the bird are about 145 mm, and the weight does not exceed 19 g.
The places of residence of the city swallow are the Old World, Asia, Japan and Sakhalin. Feathered creatures build their nests under the roofs of modern high-rise buildings.
As migratory birds, swallows make a multi-day round trip twice a year. Not everyone survives on the road. Some individuals die due to difficult weather conditions, hunger and a sharp drop in temperatures.
It is extremely difficult for any swallows to walk on the surface of the earth. The structure and anatomical features of the legs do not allow walking or jumping. These birds descend to the ground only to find and pick up material for the nest they are building. But in the sky they feel like fish in water.
Swallows develop a flight speed of up to 120 km / h. According to this indicator, they are second only to one bird on the planet - the swift.
The image of a barn swallow flaunts on a minted coin of Slovenia.
Birds also differ in voice. So, near the coast, singing begins with a chirping, and ends with a trill. City swallows do not have a clear voice. Their singing is like the babbling of a stream. Village birds make sounds reminiscent of the word "chevit".
Longevity and mating
We hear trills of swallows every spring. But they do not sing for the pleasure of human hearing. Males, which are popularly called killer whales, have a certain tactic to attract a partner. To this end, they chirp loudly and spread their tails. The female will give preference to the gentleman whose singing she considers the most pleasant. Swallows are monogamous birds. They create couples once and for all. Polygamous relationships in flocks of these birds are found, but this is rather an exception to the rule.
Swallows create a family in the first spring months. The resulting offspring characterizes the success of the "marriage bond". If the brood turned out to be viable, the birds do not look for new partners.
The life span of birds is from 4 to 8 (in rare cases) years. This applies to all types of swallows. During this time, their priority task is to leave numerous and healthy offspring.
Replenishment in the family
Bird mating begins in summer. At the same time, the male, in order to fertilize the eggs, presses outer part cloaca to the female organ.
The immediate process is preceded by the construction of a nest. Birds of both sexes equally take part in the creation of the dwelling. First, a frame is made of mud. Then it is covered with dry blades of grass, feathers and provided with an inlet. Sand swallows dig holes using their claws.
For one laying, the female leaves from 4 to 7 eggs. After two weeks and a couple of days, chicks appear. Their bodies are defenseless, not covered with feathers. Kids are absolutely not adapted to the environment, and therefore vulnerable.
Parents selflessly care for their offspring, take care of the food of the chicks and keep the nest clean. If the brood does not have time to get stronger with the onset of the first cold weather, adult birds remain nearby until their offspring are mature enough to travel.
Baby swallows, like adult birds, are very voracious. They eat about 300 times a day.
Suitable for this small midges, which the parents crush in the mouth into a ball and lay in the beak of the chick.
Three weeks later, the stronger birds make their first flight attempts. Puberty of individuals occurs the very next year after birth.
Nurturing a swallow at home
It is not uncommon for immature birds to fall out of their nests and fall into human hands. The survival of the chick depends on the conditions that are created for it.
Pick up a small bird should be very careful not to damage his weak organs. When examining the chick, pay attention to the presence of injuries and fractures.
The best way out in this situation is to visit the veterinarian and have the bird examined by a specialist. It is important to feed the chick on time. To do this, you will need special feed, which are sold in pet stores. Bread, seeds and cereals are not suitable for babies. Eliminate dead insects, hairy caterpillars, ladybugs, bugs with bright colors, Colorado beetles.
The most interesting
The uniqueness of simple, at first glance, birds is impressive.
It is known that swallow nests are too small and intended only for offspring. At night, adult birds rise to the sky to a height of up to three kilometers and sleep in flight all this time. Resting on tree branches.
The dwelling of swallows serves them for more than one year and is inherited by new generations of the family.
Swallows play an important role in nature. They destroy harmful insects, which prevents their uncontrolled spread.
The famous sign that predicts precipitation if a bird flies low above the ground has a scientific basis. high humidity the air before the rain weighs down the weight of the feathers. To fly without burdens, the bird lowers its height.
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