{"id":2124,"date":"2019-06-20T12:23:16","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T12:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/?p=2124"},"modified":"2022-03-31T20:10:56","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T20:10:56","slug":"swallows-up-close","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/index.php\/2019\/06\/20\/swallows-up-close\/","title":{"rendered":"Swallows Up-close"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Barn Swallow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do you know why some birds are called \u201cswallows”?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n

Instead of foraging on the ground, these small streamlined birds catch insects while flying. They open their small bills wide and feed in a single gulp! Hence the name “swallow.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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Swallows are often gliding and swooping high overhead, while twittering to companions. Here’s the Barn Swallow<\/strong>, Hirundo rustica,<\/em> while resting…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This fellow is easy to recognize with his deeply forked tail and his rust-colored belly. The female is creamy-white underneath and has a shorter tail…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Female Barn Swallow with mud for nest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Here’s an immature Barn Swallow… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another spring and summer resident locally is the Northern Rough-winged Swallow<\/strong> (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)<\/em>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Northern Rough-winged Swallow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Note the short tail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The largest of the swallows is the dark, glossy Purple Martin<\/strong>, Progne subis<\/em>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Immature Purple Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Purple Martins live in man-made wooden nest boxes, returning to the same box every year. Here’s a variety of martin abodes …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even a modified ice chest is acceptable.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Tree Swallow<\/strong> is a species that’s less common in this coastal area. Here’s a distinctly blue-and-white adult male that I encountered inland…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Swallows are often mentioned in weather folklore.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, there\u2019s a saying, \u201cwhen the swallows fly high, the weather will be dry.\u201d This is probably based on the fact that swallows eat flying insects that are swept upwards as warm air rises. Hence the swallows have to fly higher on some days to find their food. On the other hand, they will swoop low when cooler or wetter weather causes insects to seek shelter in trees or structures.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrue hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings,” wrote Shakespeare. <\/p> Richard III, Act 5, Scene 2 <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Here are some other birds to read about…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n