The RSPB Spotlight series introduces a selection of iconic UK wildlife
to the general reader. This latest title focuses upon the swallow and
the swift, two well known birds that, although unrelated, are often
combined--and, indeed, confused--in the popular imagination.
Traditional heralds of the European summer, swallows and swifts have
many things in common. Both feed on aerial insects and are thus
similarly adapted for an aerial lifestyle, with long wings, aerodynamic
bodies, and fast agile flight. Both have a penchant for breeding on or
around buildings, bringing them into close contact with people. And both
are long-distance migrants, departing our insect-free shores in autumn
to spend winter in sub-Saharan Africa then returning the follow spring.
These seemingly miraculous journeys, combined with a predilection for
returning to the same building to breed year after year, has seen both
birds embedded deep in our cultural heritage.
Appearances, however, can be deceptive. Swallows and swifts are not
related. Swallows (which also include martins) belong to the order
Passeriformes, or perching birds, alongside the likes of sparrows and
robins. Swifts belong to the order Apodiformes, alongside hummingbirds.
The striking similarities come down to convergent evolution, a process
by which animals from separate evolutionary roots evolve to resemble one
another--in this case, by adapting to the shared demands of a life spent
catching small flying insects. The similarities are so striking that it
is perhaps unsurprising how often swifts and swallows are confused.
This highly readable study looks closely at both birds, examining both
their differences and similarities. Separate chapters cover all aspects
of their biology and lifestyle, from their mind-boggling migrations to
the mud construction of their nests. Fascinating secrets are revealed,
such as how swifts may pass an entire year in flight without once
landing. Finally, it examines the relationship that we have enjoyed with
these birds since time immemorial, spanning both culture and
conservation, and offers expert tips on where and how you can watch them
for yourself.
