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The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The term "swallow" is used as the common name for Hirundo rustica in the UK [1] and Ireland. [2]
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world, occurring on all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail.
The purple martin (Progne subis) is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae.It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple.
The cliff swallow or American cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins. [2] The generic name Petrochelidon is derived from the Ancient Greek petros meaning "stone" and khelidon (χελιδών) "swallow", and the specific name pyrrhonota comes from purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" and -notos "-backed".
Violet-green swallow with a beak full of insects A female violet-green swallow feeding her chick from outside their tree hole nest. Similar to other swallows, violet-green swallows are specialized aerial insectivores, catching and eating their prey while in flight. However, they have been known to feed higher in the sky than most other swallows.
The northern rough-winged swallow usually nests by itself, [5] although sometimes it is found in loose groups, often at the edge of bank swallow colonies, [6] of up to 25 pairs. [5] The nests are found in burrows located in soil banks, [ 12 ] very occasionally caves and trees, and in human-made cavities such as gutters and tubes.
Delichon urbicum. The western house martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the common house martin, northern house martin or, particularly in Europe, just house martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and across the Palearctic; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia.
The genus name is the Latin word for a swallow. [3] Linnaeus included eight species in the genus and of these William Swainson designated the barn swallow ( Hirundo rustica ) as the type species . [ 4 ] [ 5 ]