Common Name: Welcome Swallow

Distribution: Welcome Swallows are widespread across Australia. The species is less common in the far north than in the south. Many in eastern Australia move to northern Australia in winter.

Ecological Notes: Welcome Swallows utilise a wide variety of habitats with the exception of the more heavily forested regions and drier inland areas. The species preys upon on a wide variety of aerial insects.

Additional Notes: Welcome Swallows catch prey in flight, using their acrobatic flying skills. The prey is guided into the bird’s wide, open mouth with the help of short rictal bristles bordering the bill. These bristles also help protect the bird’s eye.

References: Wikipedia. “Welcome Swallow.” Last modified 7 June 2020.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_swallow
Birdlife Australia at http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/welcome-swallow Accessed 27 July 2020.