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Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) Alternate name(s): "House Swallow*", "Australian Swallow" Aboriginal name(s): Race "neoxena": "baringbah"; Race "carteri": "koonamit", "boodibring", "kabritj" Size: 14-15 cm; wing span 26-28 cm Body mass: 9-20 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.18

Australia: Family Group 25 Family Group 25 Table Mistletoebird Welcome Swallow Barn Swallow White-backed Swallow Fairy Martin Tree Martin Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Welcome Swallows are similar in size to other swallows found in Australia, while martins are smaller. They have a rufous throat and frons. The rest of the front is creamy, with some grey chevrons on the undertail coverts. The crown and back are glossy bluish-black. The very long flight feathers are dark-grey. The tail is deeply forked, with bluish-black feathers and white spots on the uppertail and a grey undertail with off-white central feathers. The eyes have dark irises. The very short bill is black; the legs and feet are grey. Juvenile Welcome Swallows have shorter tails and duller colours. Twitcher's tip Compared with Barn Swallows, Welcome Swallows do not have a black breast band between their rufous throat and creamy chest and belly.

Taxonomy, classification See Welcome Swallow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Welcome Swallow is available HERE . Until about the middle of the twentieth century Welcome Swallows were endemic to Australia, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. They then colonized New Zealand, where they are now found permanently. There are two races of Welcome Swallows, of which one, "carteri", is found in Western Australia, whereas the nominate race, "neoxena", is found in the eastern half of the continent. Both races are partly migratory and will spend the non-breeding season mostly in the northern part of the continent, while during the breeding season they are found in the southern parts of their ranges. Race "neoxena" breeds along the South coast of the continent, eastward of the SA/WA border, up to about Coober Pedy, SA, all through VIC, Tasmania and NSW, South-East QLD and the QLD coastal fringe up to Cooktown in the North. Outside the breeding season they disperse into the NT from SA (as far North as Alice Springs and beyond) and into all of QLD, except the westernmost part towards the NT. Race "carteri" migrates northwards within WA, to the north-western quarter of WA and occasionally also into the Great Sandy Desert, South of the Kimberley. Depending on temperatures both races may stay in, or close to, their breeding areas throughout the winter months. Welcome Swallows can exist in all kinds of habitats, from dense forest to open plains, as long as there are suitable nest sites in the area, such as e.g. overhanging rocks in escarpments, bridges or culverts. They adapt to the presence of humans very well and are regularly found under awnings of houses, sheds and barns. Where to look? How to find this species? For those traveling around Australia, during the breeding season the easiest way to find Welcome Swallows is to stop by a major bridge and check out the underside for potential nest sites. Outside the breeding season it may be more promising to keep an eye on roadside power lines, on which Welcome Swallows like to perch.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "neoxena" Welcome Swallows, race "neoxena", visited us regularly where we lived in 2003-2006, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW. A couple stayed there to raise their young under the roof of a shed. There were no Welcome Swallows, race "neoxena", around at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri during the winter of 2007, which brought temperatures down to -5 C. However, during the winter of 2008 a flock of at least 20 Welcome Swallows remained in the area, indicating that there would not be a harsh winter. Seen also throughout the winters of 2009 and 2010. In 2011, although locally the frosts were very rare and moderate, they were absent for about 2 months. Since 2008 a pair of Welcome Swallows is nesting under the patio roof of our house. Welcome Swallows, race "neoxena", are numerous and wide-spread in inland NSW; seen by us regularly in various locations in inland NSW in the years since 2007. In 2012 seen in the Narrabri/Gunnedah region in June, in the middle of winter, when there were moderate night frosts. Welcome Swallows, race "neoxena", were also spotted by us in many locations along the NSW North Coast in January 2011 and February 2012. A. Ross-Taylor reports spotting Welcome Swallows, race "neoxena", regularly on the Gold Coast, QLD. R. Plumtree finds Welcome Swallows, race "neoxena", regularly in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. Race "carteri" J. Greaves reports spotting Welcome Swallows, race "carteri", at Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, in December 2014, and at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. C. Pears reports that Welcome Swallows, race "carteri", are regularly found in Quindalup, WA, and in Perth, WA.

Photos

Race "neoxena"

ADULT

PAIR

Near-dorsal view of a pair of Welcome Swallows
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2026]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of an adult Welcome Swallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2007]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Welcome Swallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2011]

Lateral view of a Welcome Swallow looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2007]

Close-up lateral view of a Welcome Swallow showing particularly well the blue-black sheen of the cap and mantle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2012]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Welcome Swallow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast, QLD, February 2014]

Dorsal view of a Welcome Swallow looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2007]

Small flock of Welcome Swallows resting and preening
[Goran Lake, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral view of a Welcome Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Ventral view of a Welcome Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Welcome Swallow - note the yellow gape (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Forest Lake, Brisbane, QLD, December 2016]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Welcome Swallow stretching and basking in the sun
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Welcome Swallow waiting to be fed (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Forest Lake, Brisbane, QLD, December 2016]

Juvenile Welcome Swallow being fed by one of its parents (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Forest Lake, Brisbane, QLD, December 2016]

Feeding time for two young Welcome Swallows, with one of their parents approaching from the left with something it its bill
[Yarrie Lake near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2011]

Adult Welcome Swallow, right, with one of two chicks on their first outing, two hours after fledging
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Family of Welcome Swallows preening (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Close-up near-lateral view of a juvenile Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Close-up frontal view of a "complete set" of four Welcome Swallow chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2013]

Close-up frontal view of a fledgling Welcome Swallow looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2015]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Welcome Swallow chick on its first outing; later that night all four chicks returned to their nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2012]

Close-up dorsal view of a "complete set" of four Welcome Swallow chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2013]

Race "carteri"

ADULT

PAIR

Pair of Welcome Swallows, race "carteri", at their nest (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, December 2014]

Pair of Welcome Swallows resting in cumbungi (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, June 2026]

Sex unknown

Frontal portrait of a Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, May 2022]

Frontal view of a Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, March 2022]

Frontal/near-frontal view of two Welcome Swallows (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, May 2022]

Frontal/near-frontal view of two Welcome Swallows (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, March 2022]

Near-frontal portrait of a yawning(?) Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, May 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Welcome Swallow, with another arriving from behind (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, March 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Welcome Swallow carrying nest material (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Lateral view of a Welcome Swallow looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a fledgling Welcome Swallow (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2024]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Jan

Eggs: 4 - 6

Incubation period: 14 - 16 days

Fledging age: ca. 14 days

Welcome Swallows can, given the right conditions, breed any time of the year. They can nest in colonies, but also on their own. Pairs often have more than one clutch per breeding season. The nest and eggs shown above where photographed at the start of August, that is winter in our region, when the birds were getting off to an early start. A pair nesting in an empty water tank at our former neighbour's place at the same time tells us that this is not a singular occurrence. Male and female share the incubation and feeding duties. During the breeding season adult birds will roost on or in the nest.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Mud bowl

Material: Mud with feather lining

Height above ground: Various

Nests can be at heights of up to several metres, but may also be attached to surfaces of culverts that are below ground level.

During the summers of 2006/07 and 2007/08 we had a nest under the awning of the roof of our home 20 km east of Narrabri. This nest was re-used annually, until the 2011/12 breeding season. No significant changes were made to the clay bowl; only new lining was used. Duck feathers, mostly of Australian Wood Ducks are used, which are a very effective insulation material.

Overview of the location of a Welcome Swallow nest, with a parent bird feeding one of four chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]

View from the other side of the Welcome Swallow nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]

Curious Welcome Swallow chicks peeking over the rim of the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]

This Welcome Swallow chick was the first to start sitting on the edge of the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Near a lake with aquatic plants, one can incorporate those, caked in mud, in a Welcome Swallow nest
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, August 2022]

Lateral view of a Welcome Swallow inspecting an old nest in the middle of winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2010]

This is a more "avant garde"-style Welcome Swallow nest (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Near-frontal view of Welcome Swallows collecting mud in a coastal intertidal mudflat
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2015]

Welcome Swallows collecting mud on red soil (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 19 x 13 mm

Colour: Pale creamy with light-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

View (with the help of a mirror) into a neatly feather-lined Welcome Swallow nest with four eggs in it; all four chicks were raised successfully
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2012]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Partially migratory/ dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

Welcome Swallows will leave an area during mild to severe night frosts. They can thereby serve as a good indicator for the severity of a winter to come. If they stay around, temperatures will usually not drop below -2 to -3 C.

Mob of Welcome Swallows resting on a rock shelf
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Welcome Swallows are one of the bird species that do not bathe. Instead, to rid themselves of parasitic animals, they bask in the sun, as shown below.

Lateral view of a Welcome Swallow basking in the sun
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

Welcome Swallows basking in the sun on a concrete bridge
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2020]

Welcome Swallows are creatures of habit - they always roost in the exact-same position (which makes the droppings form a neat pile; in this case under a narrow rock ledge in a cave)
[Pilliga NR, NSW, August 2015]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small insects

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: Daily(?)

Like all other swallows known to us, Welcome Swallows are insect hunters. They feed in-flight on small insects.

Welcome Swallows hawking for insects above the water of an inland fresh water lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2016]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

The variety and complexity of calls used by Welcome Swallows demonstrates that they are songbirds (as opposed to various species of swifts, which are non-passerines).

welcome_20220130.m4a	neoxena (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
welcome_20220130_4.m4a	neoxena (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
welcome_20220130_2.m4a	neoxena (NW NSW)	Contact calls (Q&A)	© MD
welcome_20140112.mp3	neoxena (NW NSW)	Warning call	© MD
welcome_20150327.mp3	neoxena (NE NSW)	Alarm calls (in-flight)	© MD
welcome_20140912_2.mp3	neoxena (NW NSW)	Alarm calls to chicks (cat)	© MD
welcome_20220130_3.m4a	neoxena (NW NSW)	Various (mob)	© MD

More Welcome Swallow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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