Swallows and Martins
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Hirundinidae
A group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. There are about 83 species worldwide, 8 in Britain.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia | A breeding summer visitor |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | A rare vagrant |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | A rare vagrant |
| Crag Martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | A rare vagrant |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | A breeding summer visitor |
| House Martin | Delichon urbicum | A breeding summer visitor |
| Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica | A rare vagrant |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | A rare vagrant |
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Great Britain
Famous quotes containing the word swallows:
“we stand on the shore
loving its pulse
as it swallows the stars,
and has since it all began
and will continue into oblivion,
past our knowing....”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)