Book description
The Barn Swallow is a familiar and popular bird throughout the world.
It is one of the most widely distributed bird species, breeding in North
America, Europe, Asia and North Africa and wintering in South America,
southern Africa, southern Asia and even northern Australia. Its habit of
nesting close to human habitation has made this elegant bird a part of
farmyard and village life and a welcome herald of spring. This book
examines all aspects of the life of this endearing bird, with chapters
on its flying skills and feeding habits, mate choice, breeding
strategies, nest sites, eggs and incubation, nestling rearing,
productivity and survival, migratory behaviour and population dynamics.
It also considers changes in populations and behaviour in relation to
intensive agriculture and climate change. The Barn Swallow is both
engaging and authoritative; birdwatchers will enjoy amazing insights
into the life of the species, such as the importance of tail feathers
when finding a mate, or the sinister way that some birds kill of the
chicks of rivals. Academic scholars will appreciate the book's broad
overview of current research on this species. Since studying their
feeding behaviour as part of her doctorate, Angela Turner has been
fascinated by Swallows. She has written many papers and books on these
birds, and is the author of Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the
World (Helm) and The Swallow (Hamlyn). She is Editor of the journal
Animal Behaviour.
