Swallows

Barn Swallow by Alan Vernon on Wikimedia

This week, I decided to focus on four species of Swallow. I know there are eight Swallow species in North America and 86 in the world, but I opted to focus on the species I had seen. Their split tail feathers are so synonymous with the birds that other species with split tails are named after them, such as swallow-tailed butterflies. They have streamlined bodies and are very acrobatic fliers, but they need to be, as they catch insects in flight! Swallows build mud nests, often on human-made structures, so some people view them as a nuisance. Many species are migratory, but none have ever been seen carrying coconuts.
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Enjoy!

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