An Activity Guide About the Songbirds of British Columbia Family HIRUNDINIDAE: Swallows

FIELD MARKS There are seven species of swallows in British Columbia. They are the most widely distributed of all songbirds. With their streamlined body, short neck and long, narrow-cut wings, swallows are more fuel-efficient than most other birds. Swallows spend more time in the air than any other songbird. They usually drink while they fly by simply skimming over the surface of the water. They also feed and court in flight. FOOD Swallows rely mainly on insects for their food. They do almost all of their foraging while in flight. They open up their short bills and use their wide mouths to scoop up insects that are flying by. Usually swallows forage in flocks close to the surface of water or in fields where there are a lot of insects. NESTING Some species of swallows nest in colonies and build their nests close together. In this way, there is no territory for the individual birds to defend, except for its own nest. There are three general types of nests that swallows build: open cup-shaped nests in natural cavities or birdhouses, vertical burrows in dirt banks, and structures made of mud, built-up against a vertical surface. Swallows migrate south for the winter. STATUS Population numbers have decreased due to loss of natural nesting sites to deforestation and competition for nesting sites with the introduced House Sparrow and European Starling. But overall, the group seems to benefit from human structures such as buildings and bridges in which they build their nests. Some species even commonly use birdhouses. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta Bicolor) Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)