swallow

Hirundo rustica

• Swooping graceful flight on long wings with long, forked tail.
  
  
• Autumn juveniles have shorter tail streamers.
  
  
• At rest look for cream underside and dark red throat and forehead (more of a rusty-buff colour in juveniles).
  
  
• Call is a cheerful 'vit vit' in flight and a rapid twittering song.

Where found

Open country, usually near water and houses. It builds its nest on ledges, beams and joists in sheds and outbuildings.

Gathers in restless flocks in autumn on telephone wires and with martins over marshes and reedbeds.


When to look for

• A summer visitor from April.
  
  
• One of the latest summer visitors to return to Africa.
  
  
• Most depart by late September.