On the Wing #69: Swift, Swallow, or Martin?

While my parent's were visiting me this weekend, the subject turned to the sickle-winged birds that skate over the pond on thin air, twittering as they go. I am of course referring to Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), one of the earliest swallows to return to the Eastern Seaboard come March and April. This came up again after I pointed out some Chimney Swifts (Chaetura pelagica) shooting around in the skies above Labertville, NJ.

I remember my dad asking, "What is the difference between swifts, swallows, and martins then?"

It was an appropriate question. They look fairly similar and can be mistaken for one another if the viewer is inexperienced.

Swallows and martins are a diversely colored family of 83 species that range over much of the globe. The most common is the circumpolar Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) that nests over much of the Northern Hemisphere and likewise winters over much of the Southern Hemisphere. Generally the name "swallow" is used to describe the fork-tailed members of the family, while "martins" are the square-tailed ones. The main problem comes when comparing European names to North American ones. For example, the Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) is called the Sand Martin in the UK, which means while it ascribes to the definition of what a swallow and martin look like, it doesn't mean that people will use the name in the same way. Another example is comparing Purple Martins (Progne subis) to other square-tailed swallow species that aren't named as such. While they are bigger than the other North American swallow species , they seem to be called martins based on their size, rather than structure. Whatever the case, swallows and martins are related and their names, however confusingly, are to a certain degree interchangeable.

Swifts on the other hand are more closely related to hummingbirds. Their small feet, specialized wings, and rapid flight certainly seem similar, but swifts, like swallows and martins, are masters of aerial acrobatics. They can typically be seen and heard twittering overhead as they screech across the skies, chasing one another and engaging in swoops, dives, and loops through the air. They do practically everything on the wing including, bathing, sleeping, and even mating. The only time they come down to land is to nest and raise their young.

The main difference between swallows (martins included) and swifts is their overall shape. Chimney Swifts are often described as "cigars with sickle-shaped wings", while swallows can vary in shape and form. Most of North America's swallows resemble the Tree Swallow which is squat, thin, aerodynamic, and sickle-winged. Their tails are generally square-shaped and they are two toned with a dark color on the top and white underneath. On the other hand, Barn Swallows have a forked tail and by that detail alone, one should have no trouble telling it from a swift or other swallow species. The tail of the swift is short and stubby. In my opinion, it looks like the pointy, scruffy bits of a twig that's been broken off of a tree. Also habitat can help to identify them too. Swifts tend to like tall structures to hide their eggs in such as cliffs, chimneys, ledges, and even behind waterfalls. As a result, many live in urban environments, while swallows and martins choose more rural environs. However, this doesn't mean they are mutually exclusive as both will range widely in search of insect prey and can be found in both urban and countryside areas.

Overall, telling swifts and swallows apart is easy and with a little practice, can be a fun task to see what's more common in your neighborhood. I'm amazed at how little people look up these days and marvel at the winged acrobats of the skies above. Just taking a few moments to appreciated what evolution had brought forth and seeing them is one of summers great treats.

Have a lovely week everyone and as always, happy birding ^_^.