Welcome Swallow - Warou
They got their name as they are the first sign of spring in southern Australia.
The Welcome Swallow is a small slim bird with pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. They have an attractive orange head and you’ll see their orange chests as they swoop down fast overhead. They came to New Zealand on the wing from Australia in the 1950s and made NZ their home.
They build nests made of mud and grasses and comfortably lined with grass and feathers that look like upside-down igloos and are usually built on ledges or under eaves.
What do Welcome Swallows eat?
Swallows eat on the wing darting about after flies, midges and moths. They sometimes swoop down and take insects from the surface of calm water. The best way to help support Welcome Swallows is to plant insect-friendly plants to help maintain their natural food source.
