The white-backed swallow can be identified by its white back, surrounded by black wings and tail. The white-backed swallow has a wide distribution, from the southern part of the Australian continent, up to the Tropic of Capricorn. The white-backed swallow prefers grasslands and will create a burrow nest.
In fact, the chances of a swallow being all white are one in several million. It is believed the bird has a condition known as leucism which is a genetic mutation which prevents pigment from going into the bird's feathers.
Key features to tell a swift from a swallow or martin are the dark underside (swallows and martins have pale bellies), the proportionately longer wings and the screaming call.
The Swallow is a popular weathervane in Irish folklore. It was generally believed that if the swallows flew high in the sky, then the weather was going to be good. If they flew low on the horizon, the opposite was true.
The name 'swallow' is a very old one, derived probably from the old English 'swell', meaning to swirl, a reference to the bird's swooping flight, or from the old Norse 'swala', meaning a cleft stick, which refers to its tail. The Irish 'fáinleog' may come from 'fán', meaning wandering or migrating.
Balor – the Celtic demon king
Balor is the demonic God of Death in Celtic mythology. Sporting one eye and a single gigantic leg, the evil creature was King of the Fomori, demons who lived in the dark depths of lakes and seas.
The welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is a species native to Australia and nearby islands, and self-introduced into New Zealand in the middle of the twentieth century. It is very similar to the Pacific swallow with which it is often considered conspecific.
What is the Symbolism of a Swallow? Swallows symbolize anything from good luck, safe travels, happiness, and positivity. They often travel in large flocks and are very social and people-friendly. Their unique quirks and love of flying make them beloved birds across the globe.
The main difference between sparrows and swallows is that swallows are thin and streamlined, build nests of mud, and hunt insects in the air, while sparrows are shorter and stockier, build nests of vegetation, and eat mostly seeds.
Swallows migrate during daylight, flying quite low and covering about 320 km (200 miles) each day. At night they roost in huge flocks in reed-beds at traditional stopover spots. Since swallows feed entirely on flying insects, they don't need to fatten up before leaving, but can snap up their food along the way.
Historically, swifts have been known as "The Devil's Bird" - probably because of their inaccessibility and thus, just like owls, they attract more folklore than good natural history.
A swallow –
Each swallow represents 5,000 nautical miles in a sailor's career. The circumference of the earth is 21,639 nautical miles – about 4.16 swallows. A swallow with a dagger would be used as a memorial of a lost comrade at sea.
This means that a female should survive and reproduce at least three years to replace herself in the population. The annual survival of adult Barn Swallows is only 48.7% (Garcia-Pérez et al.
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It appears to have the largest natural distribution of any of the world's passerines, ranging over 251 million square kilometres globally.
Although the average lifespan of a Barn Swallow is about four years, a North American individual older than eight years and a European individual older than 16 years have been observed.
Swallow Tattoo Designs & Their Meaning. Swallow tattoos symbolize travel and freedom, as well as returning home. Once used by sailors to show sailing prowess, swallow tattoos now come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of designs and colors.
“Luckily swallows are not as aggressive as blue jays or mockingbirds and swallows won't peck at your head like they will,” she said. “And often once swallows get used to your presence and know you aren't going to harm the nest, they will stop swooping down on you as you come and go from your structure.”
The presence of two swallows might well be a sign of preliminary nesting behaviour. The presence of three, or 17, suggests that they mean business. However, the swallows sighted in south-east England this week do not mean winter is over early this year.
The most desirable characteristic of swallows, swifts, and martins, however, is their voracious appetites. These insectivorous birds can consume hundreds of insects every day—from moths to mosquitoes—and inviting a family of them into the yard can provide exceptional (and free!) pest control.
Welcome Swallows are a protected species in Australia.
Swallows are often a nuisance in suburban areas. They build their mud nests that damage and deface the outer walls and eaves of residences and office buildings. Swallow feces often end up on the sides of buildings and the ground below, from the colony of birds in residence.
Today, the term 'Celtic' generally refers to the languages and cultures of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany; also called the Celtic nations. These are the regions where Celtic languages are still spoken to some extent.
A banshee (/ˈbænʃiː/ BAN-shee; Modern Irish bean sí, from Old Irish: ben síde [bʲen ˈʃiːðʲe], "woman of the fairy mound" or "fairy woman") is a female spirit in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member, usually by screaming, wailing, shrieking, or keening.