Welcome Swallow

The Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) is a small, agile passerine bird, a member of the swallow family. It exhibits a metallic blue-black coloration on its upper parts, while its underparts are a light grey. The bird's forehead, throat, and upper breast are adorned with a rusty hue. Notably, it has a long, forked tail with white spots on the individual feathers. The average length of this species is about 15 cm, including the outer tail feathers, which are slightly shorter in the female. The weight of the Welcome Swallow ranges from 9 to 20 grams.

Identification Tips

When observing the Welcome Swallow, look for its swift, circular flight patterns and darting motions. The males and females can be distinguished by the length of their outer tail feathers, with the females having slightly shorter ones. The young birds can be identified by their buffy white, rather than rufous, foreheads and throats, and their shorter tail streamers.

Habitat

The Welcome Swallow is quite adaptable, often found in open areas, man-made clearings, and urban environments. It avoids deserts and dense forests but is comfortable in a variety of other habitats, including coastal and wetland areas.

Distribution

This species is native to Australia and has self-introduced to New Zealand. In Australia, eastern populations are migratory, spending winters in the north, while western and New Zealand populations are mainly sedentary. The Welcome Swallow has a broad range, extending to New Guinea, New Caledonia, and other surrounding islands.

Behaviour

Welcome Swallows are often seen perched on wires and posts. They are known to breed close to human habitation and are commonly found in both rural and urban settings. These birds are monogamous and may raise two broods within a single breeding season.

Song & Calls

The Welcome Swallow's vocalizations consist of a mix of twittering and soft warbling notes, along with a sharp whistle when alarmed. Their calls are generally quiet and do not carry far.

Breeding

The breeding season for the Welcome Swallow lasts from August to March. They construct open cup-shaped mud and grass nests, lined with feathers and fur, on vertical surfaces. Each clutch typically contains three to five eggs, and the nests are often reused in subsequent years.

Similar Species

The Pacific Swallow is very similar to the Welcome Swallow and is often considered conspecific. However, the Welcome Swallow can be differentiated by its distinct migratory patterns and specific habitat preferences within its range.

Diet and Feeding

Welcome Swallows are insectivorous, catching their prey mid-flight with remarkable agility. They exhibit a unique behavior of drinking water while flying by skimming the surface of lakes and ponds. These birds are known to forage cooperatively and have a remarkable memory for insect activity patterns.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Welcome Swallow as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face any significant threats to its population.