Hirundinidae

The Hirundinidae, or swallows, martins, and saw-wings are a family of passerine birds found on all continents, including Antarctica on rare occasions. They have a striking look and are well-adapted to aerial eating. In Europe, the term "swallow" is used as a colloquial term for the barn swallow. Hirundinidae is a family of about 90 species classified into 19 genera, with the most diversity found in Africa, which is also where they are assumed to have developed as hole-nesters.

They're also found on a few maritime islands. Long-distance migrants include a number of European and North American species; however, West and South African swallows are nonmigratory. Pseudo Chelidonine (river martins of the genus Pseudo Chelidon) and Hirundinidae (river martins of the genus Hirundinidae) are two subfamilies of this family (all other swallows, martins, and saw-wings). The name "martin" is commonly used in the Old World for square-tailed species, and "swallow" for fork-tailed species; however, this distinction does not indicate a true evolutionary divide. The term "martin" is only used in the New World to refer to members of the genus Progne. (It is because of these two systems that the same species is known as sand martin in the Old World and bank swallow in the New World).

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Scientific Classification of American Swallow

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Suborder: Passeri

Family: Hirundinidae Rafinesque, 1815

Taxonomy and Systematics of American Swallow

In 1815, the French polymath Constantine Samuel Rafinesque introduced the Hirundinidae family (as Hirundia). The Hirundinidae are physically distinct among passerines, with molecular evidence indicating that they belong to the Sylviidae branch (Old World warblers and relatives). They've also been associated with white-eyed monsters and tits. They are classified as infraorder Passerida in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy.

The Pseudo Chelidonine, which includes the two species of river martins, and the Hirundinidae, which includes the remaining species, are clearly separated within the family. The Hirundinidae has been the subject of great debate, with taxonomists dividing them into as many as 24 genera or lumping them all together into just 12. Within the Hirundinidae, there are three core groups: the saw-wings of the genus Psalidoprocne, the core martins, and the swallows of the genus Hirundo and their relatives.

Description of American Swallow

• The Hirundinidae have an evolutionarily conservative body form that is comparable throughout the group but differs from that of other passerines. Swallows have evolved a small, streamlined body and long, pointed wings that allow for remarkable dexterity and endurance, as well as frequent periods of gliding, in order to hunt insects on the wing. Swallows' body forms enable them to fly exceedingly efficiently; their metabolic rate in flight is 49–72 percent lower than that of comparable passerines of the same size.

• Swallows have two foveae in each eye, allowing them to track prey with strong lateral and frontal vision. They also have relatively long eyes, which are about equivalent in length to their width. The long eyes allow for increased visual acuity without fighting for space within the head with the brain. Swallows have an eye morphology that is comparable to that of a raptor.

• They have small bills, strong jaws, and a wide gape, like the unrelated swifts and nightjars, who hunt in a similar manner. Their body lengths and weights range from 10–24 cm (3.9–9.4 in) and 10–60 g (0.35–2.12 oz), respectively. The major feathers are nine and the wings are long and pointed. There are 12 feathers on the tail, which can be severely forked, slightly indented, or square-ended.  A long-tail improves maneuverability and may also serve as a sexual ornament, as males' tails are often longer.

• Their legs are small, and their feet, which are partially linked at the base, are designed for perching rather than walking. Swallows can walk and even run, albeit with a shuffling, waddling gait. River martins' (Pseudochelidon) leg muscles are stronger and more robust than those of other swallows. Other distinguishing traits of river martins set them apart from other swallows.

• The most common hirundine plumage consists of glossy dark blue or green upperparts with plain or striped underparts, which are commonly white or rufous. Species that burrow or live in dry or hilly environments have a matte brown appearance above (e.g. sand martin and crag martin). The sexes show little or no sexual dimorphism, with the mature male's longer outer tail feathers being the most obvious difference.

Barn Swallows 

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most common swallow species on the planet. In fact, it looks to have the world's greatest natural range of any passerine, covering about 251 million square kilometres. It has a long, highly forked tail and blue upperparts, making it a remarkable passerine bird. Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas are all home to this species.

Barn swallows are divided into six subspecies that breed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Four of them are highly migratory, with wintering habitats spanning most of the Southern Hemisphere, including central Argentina, South Africa's Cape Province, and northern Australia. The barn swallow is not endangered due to its large range, yet there may be local population decreases due to specific stressors.

The barn swallow is an open-country bird that breeds in man-made structures and has spread as a result of human growth. It feeds on insects caught in flight and constructs a cup nest out of mud pellets in barns or similar structures. This species lives in close proximity to humans, and because of its insect-eating habits, it is tolerated by humans; in the past, beliefs about the bird and its nest contributed to this acceptance.

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Scientific Classification of Barn Swallows 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Hirundinidae

Genus: Hirundo

Species: H. Rustica

Description of Barn Swallows

The nominate subspecies H. r. Rustica's adult male barn swallow is 17–19 cm (6.7–7.5 in) long, with 2–7 cm (0.79–2.76 in) of extended outer tail feathers. It measures 32–34.5 cm (12.6–13.6 in) in length and weighs 16–22 g (0.56–0.78 oz). Steel-blue upper parts, rufous forehead, chin, and throat, and off-white underparts are separated by a broad dark blue breast band. The outer tail feathers are extended, giving the "swallowtail" its distinctive deep fork. A line of white dots runs across the upper tail's outer end.

The female's tail streamers are shorter, the blue of the upper parts and breast band is less glossy, and the underparts are paler than the male's. The juvenile is browner, with a rufous face that is lighter, and whiter underparts. It also lacks the adult's lengthy tail streamers.

 Both the sexes sing. When enthusiastic, they make witt or witt-witt calls, as well as a loud spleen-pink (or trying to chase intruders away from the nest). A sharp siflitt for predators like cats and a flitt-flitt for birds of prey like the hobby is among the alarm cries. On the wintering grounds, this species is relatively quiet.

Breeding of Barn Swallows

• The male barn swallow arrives at the breeding grounds ahead of the females and chooses a nest site, which is subsequently promoted to females by circling flight and singing. Plumage can be used to advertise: darker ventral plumage in males is correlated with increased breeding success in some populations, such as the subspecies H. r. gutturalis. In some populations, the length of the male's tail streamers is linked to his breeding success, with longer streamers being more attractive to females.

• Males in northern Europe have longer tails than those in southern Europe; while male tail streamers in Spain are just 5% longer than female tail streamers, the difference is 20% in Finland. The average male tail length in Denmark increased by 9% between 1984 and 2004, however, climate changes could lead to shorter tails in the future if summers become hotter and drier.

• Large white tail spots without parasite damage are found in males with long streamers, and as feather-eating bird lice prefer white feathers, large whitetail spots without parasite damage reflect breeding quality; spot size is related to the number of progeny produced each season.

• The barn swallow's breeding season varies; in the southern portion of the range, it normally runs from February or March to early to mid-September, though some late second and third broods can be found breeding into October. It normally begins in late May or early June in the northern half of the range and concludes around the same time as the southernmost birds' nesting season.

Feeding of Barn Swallows

Other flying insectivores, such as other swallow species and unrelated swifts, have habits that are similar to those of the barn swallow. It is not a particularly fast flier, with a top speed of about 11 m/s (25 mph), a top speed of up to 20 m/s (45 mph), and a wing beat rate of about 5, up to 7–9 times per second.

The amount of food a clutch receives is determined by its size, with larger clutches receiving more food on average. Food size is also determined by the date of a clutch; later broods receive smaller food than earlier broods. This is due to the fact that larger insects are too far away from the nest to be economically viable.

Parasite and Predators 

The wing and tail feathers of barn swallows (and other tiny passerines) often feature distinctive feather holes. Avian lice such as Machaerilaemus malleus and Myrsidea Rustica have been suggested as the cause of these holes, however, other research suggests that they are primarily caused by Borrelia species. Brunellia Domestica and Philopterus microsomaticus are two more lice species that have been discovered in barn swallows.

Avian lice prefer to feast on white tail spots, which are observed in greater numbers in short-tailed males, implying that unbroken white tail patches serve as a quality indicator. The swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarius), which is widespread in cliff swallows, has been observed to infest barn swallows in Texas.

Barn swallows have been observed to be preyed upon by predatory bats such as the bigger fake vampire bat. Swallows lure predators to their communal roosts, and various falcon species take advantage of these possibilities. The peregrine falcon and the African hobby falcon have both been proven as predators.

Relationship with Humans 

Because the barn swallow is a beautiful bird that feeds on flying insects, humans have tolerated it when it uses its structures to nest. As one of the first migrants, this noticeable species is also seen as a forerunner of summer's arrival.

The barn swallow appears to have utilized man-made structures and bridges since the dawn of civilization in the Old World. "Ante garrula quam tignis nidum suspendat hirundo," says Virgil in his Georgics (29 BC) (Before the twittering swallow hangs its nest from the rafters)

1. In Literature 

The barn swallow's northward migration as a symbol of spring or summer is referenced in many literary works. "For as one swallow or one day does not produce a spring, so one day or a short time does not make a fortunate or happy man," according to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics: "For as one swallow or one day does not make a spring, so one day or a short time does not make a fortunate or happy man."

2. In Culture

Even Gilbert White, who pioneered the study of the barn swallow in his book The Natural History of Selborne, was unsure if it migrates or hibernates in the winter. A swallow tattoo is popular among nautical men as a symbol of a safe return elsewhere, where its extensive trips have been widely documented; the tradition was that a mariner had a tattoo of this fellow wanderer after travelling 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi). After 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 kilometers; 12,000 miles) at sea, a second swallow would be added.

Swallows, martins, and saw-wings are members of the Hirundinidae family of passerine birds, which can be found on all continents save Antarctica on rare occasions. They have a distinctive appearance and are well-adapted to eating from the air. The name "swallow" is a vernacular term for the barn swallow in Europe. Hirundinidae is a family with 90 species divided into 19 genera, having the greatest variety in Africa, where they are thought to have evolved as hole-nesters. The most common swallow species on the earth is the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). It appears to have the world's largest natural range of any passerine, covering around 251 million square kilometres. It is a magnificent passerine bird with a long, sharply forked tail and blue upper parts. This species can be found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Barn swallows are classified into six subspecies, all of which breed in the Northern Hemisphere.