About the Welcome Swallow
The welcome swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae that is native to Australia and nearby islands. It has self-introduced into New Zealand in the middle of the twentieth century. It is very similar to the Pacific swallow with which it is often considered conspecific.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The welcome swallow is a small fast-flying bird. Its flying style is circular in pattern with swift darting motions. It has graceful shape and flight, moreover it often flies singly, in couples or in clusters. The welcome swallow is metallic blue-black above, light grey below on the breast and belly, and rusty on the forehead, throat and upper breast. It has a long forked tail, with a row of white spots on the individual feathers. These birds are about 15 cm (5.9 in) long, including the outer tail feathers which are slightly shorter in the female. The welcome swallow's weight is about 9-20g.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Welcome Swallow lives
When to see the Welcome Swallow
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Pacific SwallowHirundo javanicaThis species is a small swallow at 13 cm (5.1 in) in length.
Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithiiThe wire-tailed swallow is a small swallow, measuring 18 cm (7.1 in) in length.
White-throated SwallowHirundo albigularisThe white-throated swallow is 14–17 cm long.
Side by side: Barn Swallow vs Welcome Swallow · Pacific Swallow vs Welcome Swallow · Welcome Swallow vs Wire-tailed Swallow · Welcome Swallow vs White-throated Swallow
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