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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.
A photo of a Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta leucopyga)

Chilean Swallow

Tachycineta leucopyga
A photo of a Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Swallow

Hirundo rustica
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A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so itā€™s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. Itā€™s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. Itā€™s like a real life PokĆ©mon go.
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We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you arenā€™t on it, why not??
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I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
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Iā€™m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. Iā€™m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! šŸ¦
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Chudbond
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I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
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I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Anonymous
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Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
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I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds Iā€™ve seen and heard while Iā€™m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. Itā€™s great to collect badges and to review my ā€œlistsā€.
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