Swallow (Hirundo rustica)Where and when to see it in the UK
Summer visitor · reporting peaks May · Swallows · BOU category AEF
Peak months
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (grid squares, place names from OS Open Names). Northern Ireland place names: OSNI Open Data, OGL v3.0. County and country boundaries: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0. Coastline: Natural Earth. Bird records from the data partners listed here.
Swallow has been recorded in 2,913 of the 2,971 10 km squares covering UK land (98%) in records to 2026. Summer visitor in the UK. Its strongest squares are in England, Scotland and Wales. Reporting peaks in May.
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, LC)
View on the IUCN Red List- Very high
- 54% or more of visits
- High
- 36% to 54%
- Moderate
- 20% to 36%
- Low
- under 20%
- Surveyed, not recorded
- at least 20 qualifying visits, no record
- Insufficient records
- too few visits to say
- Lighter fill
- Few visits, lower confidence
- Small dot
- Occasional: a single record, or out of season
Relative to this species' best squares (how classes are calculated)
Seasonality
| Month | Relative to peak | Share of visits | Typical class |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0% | <1% | Very high |
| February | 0% | <1% | Very high |
| March | 2% | 1% | Low |
| April | 63% | 28% | Low |
| May | 94% | 41% | Very high |
| June | 83% | 36% | Very high |
| July | 87% | 38% | Very high |
| August | 100% | 44% | Very high |
| September | 81% | 35% | Very high |
| October | 22% | 10% | Low |
| November | 2% | <1% | Low |
| December | 0% | <1% | Very high |
Squares with the highest reporting rate in May
| Square | Where | Share of visits | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| C42 | Derry City and Strabane, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| C51 | Derry City and Strabane, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| C61 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| C90 | Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| C91 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| C93 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| D12 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| D20 | Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| D24 | Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| D40 | Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |