First Swift

[dunc50]

Seen the first swift today,, good sign that weather is heating up, as they don't hang about if it's to cold,

[Kyleakin Lofts]

A few flying around here, but they may be house martins.

[Mattydoos79]

Got house martins and swallows here but no swifts yet

[paddymac]

We've had the swifts here in the N/west of Ireland since last week.

[hotrod]

Swifter here yesterday .no house margins of swallows yet .

[VAGIN]

How do you tell the diffrence between swift/martin/swallow????

[Kyleakin Lofts]

How do you tell the diffrence between swift/martin/swallow????

 

I was about to ask that question. I think swallows have longer tails and more pointed than the other two, one of them has a black beard as well. I think most people just classify them as the same thing.

[paddymac]

Swift is largest and dark brown in colour, Martin is darker and has a white breast,the Swallow is also darker with a white breast but also has a red/orange bib.

[leslie24williams49]

No swifts here yet may be one or two about today in S.Wales valleys.

[dunc50]

How do you tell the diffrence between swift/martin/swallow????

Swift is black white throughout twice the size of swallow and very fast, they like to squeak high pitched when enjoying themselves flying round buildings, but if the temp drops they head back to a warmer area,

[Mattydoos79]

Right the difference is Swifts are black/brown looks like boomerang shape in sky they got white throat, swallows are dark blue on back and cream white on their underside with red throat and got fork tail, finally the house martins are similar to swallows but smaller and black top with white underside and white rump between the tail and back. Hope that helps as I’m birdwatcher as well as keeping doos

[Kyleakin Lofts]

Right the difference is Swifts are black/brown looks like boomerang shape in sky they got white throat, swallows are dark blue on back and cream white on their underside with red throat and got fork tail, finally the house martins are similar to swallows but smaller and black top with white underside and white rump between the tail and back. Hope that helps as I’m birdwatcher as well as keeping doos

 

Lots of different answers in the earlier posts, but certain similarities within the answers. Plenty of detail in this post. At least I was correct with the forked tail for swallows, albeit incorrect with the colour of their beard. I am sure it is house martins we have around here though.

[paddymac]

Right the difference is Swifts are black/brown looks like boomerang shape in sky they got white throat, swallows are dark blue on back and cream white on their underside with red throat and got fork tail, finally the house martins are similar to swallows but smaller and black top with white underside and white rump between the tail and back. Hope that helps as I’m birdwatcher as well as keeping doos

Spot on Matthew

[THE FIFER]

not much birds around at all here, sparrows ,starlings etc very few, even the black birds and thrush are very limited

[Dooheed 5]

Was just viewing this post and thinking to myself there’s none here either then looked up and there they were the first two !!