A fascinating chicken identify is “swallow.” In past due Outdated English and Center English it intended “gulf, abyss, hollow within the earth, whirlpool,” additionally, in Center English, “throat, gullet.” The identify it seems that caught to the birds as a result of their dizzying, whirlpool-like flight, or their voracious consuming behavior. A
In Historic Greece, swallows have been related to Aphrodite. As well as, they have been bearers of excellent success. They have been related to the gods, in addition to the souls of the useless. The traditional Greeks allegedly believed gods may just take new shape as swallows, and harming a kind of birds may just convey unhealthy fortune. Greeks additionally had some attention-grabbing concepts about their migration.
The Northern Tough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) is so-called as a result of its number one feathers are edged with small hooks, a function you’ll be able to handiest discover by way of operating a finger alongside the feather. The genus identify way “scraper wing” and the species identify “noticed wing.” Those constructions, which would appear to extend turbulence most definitely serve to easy airflow over the wings, if a analysis paper on swift wings applies, however I haven’t discovered this sort of research of swallows.
The Northern Tough-winged Swallow is a small chicken species discovered within the Americas, from southern Canada to South The us. This swallow is likely one of the smaller swallow species, with a period of about 5 inches (13 cm) and a wingspan of roughly 10 inches (25 cm). It has a brownish-gray again and wings and a light grayish-brown throat. Its underparts are mild grey, and its tail is quite forked.
Those swallows feed nearly solely on flying bugs, intercepting them with a low, gliding flight over water or open floor, with a slower and smoother wingbeat than different swallows. In contrast to different swallow species, the Northern Tough-winged Swallow constructs a cup nest in hillside burrows or crevices and culverts in human constructions. They usually breed a couple of times a 12 months, with clutches of 4-5 eggs. In contrast to the identical Financial institution Swallow that nests in colonies, the Northern Tough-winged Swallow nests solitarily.
Within the fall, maximum populations migrate to Central and South The us, even though heat spaces such because the Texas Gulf Coast and southern Florida host populations 12 months spherical.
A subspecies of the Tough-winged Swallow is referred to as the Southern Tough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis serripennis),discovered within the southern a part of the Tough-winged Swallow’s vary, from Mexico to South The us. The Southern Tough-winged Swallow is identical in look to the nominate subspecies, but it surely has a darker and extra uniform gray-brown again and wings, and a extra contrasting rufous collar on its neck. The Southern Tough-winged Swallow additionally has a quite longer invoice and a bigger wing house than the nominate subspecies.
The identical Financial institution Swallows have a forked tail, not like Northern Tough-winged Swallows that have square-tipped tail. Financial institution Swallows additionally drift with a extra obtrusive bend within the wings than rough-winged. In comparison to the Northern Tough-winged Swallow, the Financial institution Swallow has a crisp brown chest band and fairly dainty construct.