Species guide
Welcome Swallow: how to recognise it
A bird of Oceania. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
Practise with real photosAll species guides
Photo © Shane Walker · CC BY · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Hirundo neoxena
- Family
- Swallows and Martins
- Size
- About 14–16 cm
- Habitat
- Open country near water, and towns
- Found in
- Oceania
The key marks
Steel-blue above with a rusty-orange forehead and throat, a pale grey belly and a long forked tail.
Voice
A twittering, warbling song and a soft “wit”.
Good to know
It builds mud nests under bridges, eaves and in culverts, so it is easy to watch close to people.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in open country near water, and towns. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.