Songbird Saturday

Some sounds can transport you back to a moment in time, and the call of the Swallow evokes the nostalgia of balmy summer’s afternoons in rolling countryside

Ask anyone to name their favourite summer birdsongs and it’s likely the noisy, animated vocalisations of the Swallow (or Barn Swallow, as they’re sometimes called) will feature prominently on their shortlist. 

Arriving back in the UK in springtime, some as early as late-March, the chattering and chirping of this member of the hirundine family (along with House Martin and Sand Martin) is a herald of the warmer weather and longer days just around the corner. 

Swallows mate for life and when they get back from their adventures in Africa, already-established pairs reunite at their previous nesting sites, often to last year’s nests, if these remain intact. 

Males and female Swallows both sing, to secure territory and to either attract a mate or to re-establish the pair-bond. Their song is a joyful, musical babble of high-pitched twitters, chirps and warbles that can last anywhere between four seconds and 20 seconds, followed by an insect-like, quasi-mechanical whirring sound. This lively vocal rendition is often either introduced with a simple chirp or concluded with one, or both. During the breeding season, when singing is at its peak, the birds string the parts together to make a continuous tune.

Unlike many of our summer migrants – who are often heard and not seen because they’re concealed by the luxuriant foliage of the tree canopy at the height of its growth – Swallows are much more visible, frequently performing from exposed perches like telegraph wires, rooftops or near their nest sites. And with their striking appearance – red throat, glossy blue-black head and back, creamy underside and distinctive forked tail – they are immediately recognisable.

Swallows also spend a lot of time in the air, flying and hunting for insect-prey. While they do, these aerial acrobats make a simple, continuous ‘swi-swi-swi’ or ‘trip-trip’ contact call. Their calls are much louder, more animated and more varied than the quieter, more repetitive chattering of the House Martin, which tend to be found in more urban areas. Both are distinctly different from the very high-pitched screaming of the Swift.

Cheerful, jubilant and effervescent, the song of this much-loved bird is without doubt a highlight of British summertime.

Swallow song at a glance

WHEN: From late March until early October, with singing peaking on arrival, through courtship and mating. Active singing times are from dawn until midday, then again late afternoon. Singing drops off significantly by late summer once chicks have fledged. Swallows generally do not sing during autumn migration or on their wintering grounds

WHERE: Typically open countryside across upland, grassland, wetland and farmland habitats, but can sometimes be found in more urban/suburban areas. Favourite nest sites include barns and outbuildings.

WHAT: A joyful, musical babble of high-pitched twitters, chirps and warbles lasting from 4 to 20 seconds, followed by a mechanical whirring or buzzing, often introduced or concluded with a chirp. Contact call is a simple, continuous ‘trip-trip’ clicking sound.