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Story: Land birds – overview

Welcome swallow

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Welcome swallow

The welcome swallow is one of the species that have recently arrived unassisted from Australia. The first record of them breeding in New Zealand was near Kaitāia in 1958. Just 20 years later it had expanded east as far as the Chatham Islands. Welcome swallows are now common, especially in lowland farmland and around wetlands. They build nests under the eaves of houses and barns or other structures such as bridges.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10033932

by Dick Veitch

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How to cite this page

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Land birds – overview – Land bird groups and their origins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9889/welcome-swallow (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerry-Jayne Wilson, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Karen
05 September 2017
I have just seen one on a fence line in Invercargill. I recognized it as its flight was the same as those I saw in Fiji.
Bevan walker
01 July 2017
Are swallows migratory? Cheers Bevan Walker