They dart and swoop around with their v-shaped wings and forked tails. They line up on wire fences. At certain times of the year you’ll find their mud nests above an outside light fitting, or high in the garage. He aha tērā? What is that?
Answer: it’s a Warou | Welcome Swallow:
Identification: Length: 14 - 16 cm; Weight: 9 - 20 g
Similar species: Tree martin, Fairy martin, Fork-tailed swift, White-throated needletail
A small bird with rufous on the forehead, neck, breast and flanks, a black eye stripe, a short broad black bill, blue-black back and upperwings, pale buff underparts, long dark tail with white spots towards the ends of the feathers, and a deeply-forked tail and long pointed wings. Juveniles are similar but with duller colouring and a darker head.
