A short article with basic knowledge about swallows! Learn useful information about these nice birds that visit Mediterranean areas every spring and build their nests near us.
How long does a swallow live?
The maximum recorded time is 8 years and 1 month. The lifespan of a swallow depends on factors such as the quality and quantity of food it receives, its ability to make migration trips.
How long does it take the swallow to build its nest?
The swallow builds its new nest in about 3 weeks. The process is laborious. That is why it is very important to maintain the nests they have built. The swallows return to their nests.
What do swallows eat?
Swallows eat insects. Mostly flying insects which make up 99% of their diet. They catch their prey as they fly.
Where do swallows go in winter?
They migrate to parts of central and southern Africa. In spring they return to Greece and Mediterranean areas.
How many species of swallows are there?
84 species of swallows have been recorded.
The most common in urban Greece is the Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica).
- African river martin, Pseudochelidon eurystomina
- White-eyed river martin, Pseudochelidon sirintarae
- Square-tailed saw-wing, Psalidoprocne nitens
- Mountain saw-wing, Psalidoprocne fuliginosa
- White-headed saw-wing, Psalidoprocne albiceps
- Black-headed saw-wing, Psalidoprocne pristoptera
- Fanti saw-wing, Psalidoprocne obscura
- Grey-rumped swallow, Pseudhirundo griseopyga
- White-backed swallow, Cheramoeca leucosternus
- Mascarene martin, Phedina borbonica
- Brazza’s martin, Phedina brazzae
- Brown-throated martin, Riparia paludicola
- Grey-throated martin, Riparia chinensis
- Congo martin, Riparia congica
- Sand martin, Riparia riparia
- Banded martin, Riparia cincta
- Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
- Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
- Golden swallow, Tachycineta euchrysea
- Bahama swallow, Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
- Tumbes swallow, Tachycineta stolzmanni
- Mangrove swallow, Tachycineta albilinea
- White-winged swallow, Tachycineta albiventer
- White-rumped swallow, Tachycineta leucorrhoa
- Chilean swallow, Tachycineta meyeni
- Purple martin, Progne subis
- Cuban martin, Progne cryptoleuca
- Caribbean martin, Progne dominicensis
- Sinaloa martin, Progne sinaloae
- Grey-breasted martin, Progne chalybea
- Galapagos martin, Progne modesta
- Peruvian martin, Progne murphyi
- Southern martin, Progne elegans
- Brown-chested martin, Progne tapera
- Brown-bellied swallow, Notiochelidon murina
- Blue-and-white swallow, Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
- Pale-footed swallow, Notiochelidon flavipes
- Black-capped swallow, Notiochelidon pileata
- Andean swallow, Haplochelidon andecola
- White-banded swallow, Atticora fasciata
- Black-collared swallow, Atticora melanoleuca
- White-thighed swallow, Neochelidon tibialis
- Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
- Southern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
- Tawny-headed swallow, Alopochelidon fucata
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
- Red-chested swallow, Hirundo lucida
- Angola swallow, Hirundo angolensis
- Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
- Welcome swallow, Hirundo neoxena
- White-throated swallow, Hirundo albigularis
- Ethiopian swallow, Hirundo aethiopica
- Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
- White-bibbed swallow, Hirundo nigrita
- Pied-winged swallow, Hirundo leucosoma
- White-tailed swallow, Hirundo megaensis
- Pearl-breasted swallow, Hirundo dimidiata
- Blue swallow, Hirundo atrocaerulea
- Black-and-rufous swallow, Hirundo nigrorufa
- Eurasian crag martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
- Pale crag martin, Ptyonoprogne obsoleta
- Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
- Dusky crag martin, Ptyonoprogne concolor
- Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
- Asian house martin, Delichon dasypus
- Nepal house martin, Delichon nipalense
- Greater striped swallow, Cecropis cucullata
- Lesser striped swallow, Cecropis abyssinica
- Red-breasted swallow, Cecropis semirufa
- Mosque swallow, Cecropis senegalensis
- Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
- Striated swallow, Cecropis striolata
- Rufous-bellied swallow, Cecropis badia
- Red-throated cliff swallow, Petrochelidon rufigula
- Preuss’s cliff swallow, Petrochelidon preussi
- Red Sea cliff swallow, Petrochelidon perdita
- South African cliff swallow, Petrochelidon spilodera
- Forest swallow, Petrochelidon fuliginosa
- Streak-throated swallow, Petrochelidon fluvicola
- Fairy martin, Petrochelidon ariel
- Tree martin, Petrochelidon nigricans
- American cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva
- Chestnut-collared swallow, Petrochelidon rufocollaris
