Every summer, a cast of airborne marvels returns to our skies. Swifts screaming at rooftop height, swallows skimming low over grass, house martins chattering from muddy nests — they’ve flown thousands of miles to reach us, yet stay only briefly. None will ever visit a bird feeder. These are aerial insectivores — hunters on the wing. But with a little understanding, you can spot, enjoy, and even help them while they’re here.
What Unites Them?
Swifts, swallows, and martins are often grouped together because of their aerial lifestyles and long-distance migrations. But interestingly, they’re not all part of the same family.
- Swifts belong to the Apodidae family.
- Swallows, House Martins, and Sand Martins are members of Hirundinidae.
They share key features: forked or pointed wings, streamlined bodies, and diets of flying insects caught mid-air. You won’t see them perched on feeders - but you can watch their aerial shows if you know where (and when) to look.
Swifts – Born to Fly
Swifts (Apus apus) are perhaps the most extraordinary of them all. They spend nearly their entire lives in flight, eating, sleeping, even mating on the wing. After fledging, a young swift may not land again for up to three years.
How do they sleep while flying?
Swifts can enter a state of unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, meaning half their brain rests while the other stays alert. This allows them to glide at high altitudes while catching sleep mid-flight.
Where and when to see them:
Look for scythe-shaped silhouettes soaring high in the sky from May to early August. Swifts favour older buildings with high eaves, church towers, and open skies. At dusk, they gather in 'screaming parties', groups of birds speeding low over rooftops, calling raucously.
House Martins – The Mud Nest Builders
With bright white bellies, glossy blue-black backs and forked tails, house martins (Delichon urbicum) are a familiar sight in towns and villages. But it’s their nests that deserve attention, mud-packed cups stuck under house eaves, often reused year after year.
How do their nests stick to walls?
Martins collect mud and mix it with saliva, forming a sticky cement. They return to the same nesting spots each year, repairing and reusing old nests where possible.
Do house martin nests fall down?
Yes. Especially in hot, dry weather when the mud can crack. Artificial nest bowls can help reduce the risk by offering a secure nesting point.
When and where to see them:
Arriving in April or May, they can be seen flitting near rooftops or collecting mud in puddles. Their nests are typically found under eaves in sheltered spots.
Swallows – The Low-Flying Dancers
Swallows (Hirundo rustica) are summer’s classic country birds. With long, tapering tail streamers, metallic blue backs, pale underparts and red throats, they fly low over fields and water with a fluttering grace.
Why do swallows have such long tail streamers?
Their tails help them manoeuvre at high speed while catching insects. Studies suggest longer tails may also play a role in attracting mates.
Why do they fly so low?
They follow their food. Flying insects stay close to vegetation and water sources — so swallows skim the surface to hunt efficiently.
Where and when to spot them:
Look for them near open farmland, lakes, and rivers, often nesting in open barns, sheds, or stables. They typically arrive in late March to April and stay until September.
Sand Martins – The Cliff-Dwellers
Sand martins (Riparia riparia) are often overlooked due to their shyer nature. Smaller and browner than their cousins, they nest in colonies in sandy riverbanks, gravel pits and cliffs, digging deep tunnels into soft soil.
How do they nest in sand?
Sand martins excavate 60–90cm-long tunnels using their feet and beaks. At the end of the tunnel, they create a small nesting chamber lined with feathers.
Where and when to see them:
Spot them near quarries, riverbanks, or coastal cliffs from March to September. Their colonies can include dozens, even hundreds of pairs. Many nature reserves have installed artificial nesting banks with the most famous probably being WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, boasting over 290 nesting holes!
How to Watch and Enjoy These Aerial Birds
You don’t need to be a birdwatcher to enjoy the show. Here’s how to make the most of their brief summer visit:
- Look Up at Dusk: Swifts often scream-loop above rooftops in the evening.
- Visit Open Spaces: Swallows and sand martins favour low-flying over fields or near water.
- Watch Mud Puddles: House martins collect nesting material from damp ground.
- Listen Carefully: Swifts scream, martins chatter, swallows make a soft, musical twitter.
Swift & Swallow Photography Tips
Capturing fast-flying birds is no easy feat, but with a little knowledge and a lot of creativity, it is possible!
With a smartphone:
- Use burst mode to take multiple shots rapidly.
- Zoom out, cropping later gives better results than poor digital zoom.
- Shoot at dusk or dawn for better light angles and contrast.
- Stabilise your phone on a wall or post for smoother tracking.
- Take your opportunities. Wait for house martins to perch on gutters and swallows on telegraph lines, giving you a static target to photograph.
With a camera (DSLR/Mirrorless):
- Use shutter speeds of 1/2000 or faster.
- Try for as much depth of field as light allows. An aperture of f/5.6 or f/8 is a good start.
- Track birds with continuous autofocus (AI Servo/AF-C).
- Consider a 300mm or longer telephoto lens for best reach and detail.
- If possible use a tripod or gimbal for stability and tracking.
Can You Help Swifts and house martins?
Yes, although they don’t come to feeders, there are things you can do:
- Install a swift, swallow or house martin nest box: Especially under deep, sheltered eaves.
- Avoid power-washing or painting eaves during nesting season: It can dislodge active nests or cause birds to abandon them.
- Plant insect-friendly flowers: Boosts natural food for all aerial insectivores.
- Support wet patches or mud puddles: Ideal for martins collecting nest material, especially during prolonged dry spells.
- Leave barn and shed doors open: Helps swallows access their traditional nesting sites.
- Build a pond: Ponds and other water features attract plentiful insect life which these birds depend on for food.
Quick FAQs – Swifts, Swallows & Martins
Do swifts really sleep while flying?
Yes. They glide at high altitudes and allow half of their brain to rest while the other half stays alert, a unique adaptation to their fully aerial lifestyle.
How do house martins stick their nests to walls?
They use a mixture of mud and saliva to build a strong, adhesive cup-shaped nest, usually under eaves or gables.
What’s the difference between swallows and house martins?
Swallows have long tail streamers, a reddish throat, and nest inside barns. House martins are chunkier, have white rumps, and build external mud nests under eaves.
Where do sand martins nest?
They dig long tunnels into sandy banks or cliffs. You’ll often see them in colonies along rivers or near quarries.
Why are these birds declining?
Loss of nesting sites, reduced insect populations, and climate pressures during migration all contribute to their decline. Swift boxes, insect-friendly gardening, and reduced pesticide use all help.
What is a screaming party of swifts?
A ‘screaming party’ is a term used to describe family groups of swifts flying at speed on summer evenings, while ‘screaming’ out their distinctive, long and high-pitched calls. These acrobatic gatherings often happen near nest sites and are a sure sign swifts are breeding nearby.
Final Thoughts
Swifts, swallows, and martins are more than just summer visitors, they’re astonishing examples of adaptation and endurance. For just a few months, they grace our skies, raising families and fuelling on the wing. With a little awareness, and a glance upwards, you can become part of their story. A witness to some of the most remarkable lives on Earth.
