Swift or swallow?

[fairman]

How do you tell the difference between a swallow, a swift & a martin?

[Kit]

Assuming you mean British birds, probably the easiest is to refer you to the relevant pages from Illustrated guide to British Birds, http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/

Swallow: http://tinyurl.com/5ygsa
Swift: http://tinyurl.com/yvgo3
Martin: http://tinyurl.com/25bdc

[Kit]

Bother, 2 of htose links don't work - try again:
Swallow: http://tinyurl.com/5ygsa
Swift: http://tinyurl.com/yvgo3
Martin: http://tinyurl.com/25bdc

[New Forester]

At this time of year it's easier in the UK -- it's not a swift, as they went to Africa a month ago... Swifts are actually not closely related to swallows and martins, but more so to hummingbirds. Swifts have very long, sickle shaped wings and quite short, forked tails -- giving them the shape of a black crescent moon. They are the ones which scream in the summer, and often feed very high up. They nest in crevices in buildings. There is one species in Britain, with a couple more elsewhere in Europe and very many more in the tropics. They feed, drink, mate and sleep on the wing, only landing to nest and occasionally to rest in a hole. Swallows and martins are both in the swallow family. European swallow has a long forked tail, longish wings and a white underside. Young birds have shorter tails, and males have extra-long ones. They mainly swoop in meadows, and breed in half-cup nests in barns and outhouses. They sing a chattery little song rather like a dunnock's. House martins have short forked tails, and quite long wings. They are smart black and white, with white bellies and white rumps. They nest in quarter-sphere nests under eaves, usually on houses; the nest has a little round entrance hole. They feed quite high up. Sand martins are brown on the back, white on the belly, with a brown band across the chest. They hunt, usually in groups, over meadows and woods, usually in river valleys. They nest in large colonies in burrows in sand banks and sandpits. They're quite small compared with the others. House and sand martins have a characteristic chirrupy call. There are lots of other martins and swallows -- one more of each in Europe, with dozens more in the tropics. Swallows and martins arrive in the UK in mid April and leave when the weather turns, usually in September or October. Swifts come in early May and leave in August -- just a short summer break really.