Swallows, Martins

Swallows, martins, and saw-wings belong to the Hirundinidae family, representing highly adapted aerial insectivores recognizable by their streamlined bodies and long, pointed wings, crucial for their impressive endurance and agility in flight. This cosmopolitan family comprises around 90 species across 19 genera, with the highest diversity in Africa, their believed evolutionary origin. They showcase a variety of nesting habits, from hole-nesting and burrow excavation to crafting mud nests. Swallows have a global distribution, breeding on all continents, with temperate species often migrating long distances in response to insect availability, while tropical species may be resident or partially migratory. Swallows forage on the wing, primarily capturing flying insects, and exhibit a diversity in breeding behavior; some species are solitary while others form large colonies. These birds share incubation and chick-feeding responsibilities, though the roles can differ between species. Humans have had a long relationship with swallows, often encouraging their presence due to their appetite for insects. Despite generally being common and widespread, some swallow species face threats such as habitat loss and competition with introduced species.