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Welcome Swallow

Metallic blue-black on top and light to dark grey on its breast and belly. Its forehead, throat and upper breast are rust in colour. It has grey legs and feet, and its eyes and bill are black. A young Welcome Swallow has shorter tail feathers than an adult and its forehead and throat are a creamy beige (instead of rust).

Distinctive feature

A deeply forked tail with a white band or row of spots on the long tail feathers.

Size

About 15 cm long (to the tip of the tail)

Behaviour

Call

A mixture of twittering and soft warbling notes, with a sharp alarm whistle.

Diet

A range of insects which it catches on the wing. Welcome Swallows feed in large flocks when there are many insects around.

Flight

Swift and undulating.

Breeding

Readily breeds close to human habitation. Its nest is an open cup of mud and grass, made by both the male and female. It is attached to a vertical structure, such as a rock wall or building, and is lined with feathers and fur. The female lays three to five eggs and she incubates them, although both parents feed the young birds. There are often two broods in a season.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Birds
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common
  • Did You Know?
    • Welcome Swallows often nest on verandahs, ledges, warehouses and sheds, where their droppings can create a nuisance or even a health hazard
    • The outer tail feathers, known as streamers, are slightly shorter in the female than the male Welcome Swallow

  • What to Observe

    • Courting/Mating

    • Calling

    • Feeding

    • Bird on chicks

    • Bird on eggs

    • Bird on nest

    • Bird feeding young

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • From August to March
    • Breeding occurs from August through February
    • Eggs are laid any time between August and February
    • Eggs hatch 2 - 3 weeks after being laid
    • Young birds leave the nest when they are 2 - 4 weeks old

    Where To Look

    • Throughout Australia, except in the more heavily forested regions and drier inland areas, and is less common in far northern Australia
    • It will travel widely in search of food and is particularly common near fresh water
    • Nests are often found on vertical walls or buildings
    • It can be seen on wires, posts and other suitable perches

  • What Else?

    Another swallow wouldn’t have the Welcome Swallow’s rust-coloured forehead and throat.

    Similar Species

    Barn Swallow has a dark blue to black breast-band across its throat, separating its red chin from its white chest and underparts. In flight, the front edges on the underside of its wings are white, but on a Welcome Swallow they are grey.

    The White-backed Swallow has a white back and pale-grey head, and the Red-rumped Swallow has a red rump and streaked, chestnut underparts.

    Swifts are larger and has longer and more-curved wings, and rarely lands. Welcome Swallows are commonly seen sitting on perches.

    Fairy Martin or Tree Martin has a shorter, squarer tail, and white to buff coloured rump.
  • Trails: Australian National Botanic Gardens ACT, Bellarine Peninsula - Barwon Coast & Ocean Grove Nature Reserve VIC, Bendigo Kennington Reservoir VIC, Bibra Lake WA, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha QLD, Brisbane City Gardens QLD, Canning River Regional Park WA, Cumberland Land Conservancy Marsdenia NSW, Cumberland Land Conservancy Thornbill NSW, Cumberland Land Conservancy Wallaroo NSW, Cumberland Land Conservancy Wombat NSW, Ecolinc Bacchus Marsh VIC, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens QLD, Gresswell Forest VIC, Gumblossom Reserve WA, Haining Farm VIC, Herdsman Lake WA, James Cook University Cairns QLD, James Cook University Townsville QLD, Kangaroo Valley PS NSW, Killalea State Park NSW, Kings Billabong Mildura VIC, Kings Park & Botanic Garden WA, Lake Catani Mount Buffalo VIC, Lake Monger WA, Lake Seppings Albany WA, Marramarra NP NSW, Monash University VIC, Morwell NP VIC, North Head NSW, Pannawonica WA, Paraburdoo WA, Piney Lakes Trail WA, Randwick Coastal Walkway NSW, Randwick Environmental Park NSW, Reedy Swamp Shepparton VIC, Ricketts Point VIC, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne VIC, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney NSW, Rumbalara EEC NSW, Serendip Sanctuary VIC, St Josephs College Geelong VIC, Sunshine Coast Currimundi QLD, Sunshine Coast Kawana Forest QLD, Sunshine Coast Maroochy Wetlands QLD, Sydney Olympic Park NSW, Taroona High School TAS, Tinaroo EEC QLD, Tom Price WA, Tyrendarra IPA VIC, University of Sydney NSW, University of Western Australia WA, Urrbrae Wetland SA, Valley Reserve Mount Waverley VIC, Waylen Bay Scout Group WA, Werribee Open Range Zoo VIC, Wickham WA, Wilsons Promontory NP Tidal River VIC, Valley Lake SA, Sunshine Coast Doonan Creek QLD
  • Species Region: Australia