Differences between Chickadee and Swallow

Chickadee and Swallow are two classes of birds that belong to the Paridae and Hirundinidae families respectively.

Chickadee is a group of North American songbirds that symbolizes energy and courage. The name is analogous to the bird’s call notes that is usually used to send out alarms. It is interesting that the number of times ‘dee’ is called out is based on the type of predator. Chickadees are capable of producing 13 types of complex vocalizations. Chickadees are small birds with a round head and long tail. Their crown, forehead, and neck are deep black in color. The cheeks and belly are pure white, while the back is grey. The wings and tail are streaks of white and black. The eyes of Chickadees are brown. Their bill is short, slightly curved, and black. Chickadee is an inquisitive bird and quick in spotting preys and feeders. It is especially known for its exemplary memory. The bird conceals about 80,000 seeds in different places during the summer and reclaims them efficiently in the winter. Chickadees are also capable of identifying and remembering every aspect of their environment.

Swallow encompasses about 90 species of birds. These birds are small with short bills. The color of their plumage varies depending on the species. The back could be plain or bluish green. The belly is usually plain and white, while the lower part of the face and the neck are usually red. The wings of Swallows are narrow and pointed. The tail is long with the tip either square or forked. The birds have short legs with small feet for perching, walking, and running. They have exemplary eyesight. The birds spend most of their time in flight. Some prominent and widespread Swallow species are Barn Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, and Bank Swallow.

Where are Chickadee and Swallow found?

Chickadees generally live in dense forests and coniferous regions. However, they can also be found in open grasslands and open woods near waterbeds. They have also adapted themselves to live in parks and gardens in cities. They are regular visitors at backyards. Chickadees are native to North America. They exist there in huge population. There are seven Chickadee species in the continent. Some of them are Mountain Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Mexican Chickadee, and Black-capped Chickadee. Similar birds exist in Asia, Africa, and Europe. However, only the North American group of birds are known as Chickadees. The other identical birds are mostly known as tits.

Swallows prefer locations that are near lakes, rivers, and waterbodies. However, they live in diverse habitats. They can be found in open grasslands, meadows, alpine areas, and even towns and cities. Swallows are distributed in almost all continents – Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They do not exist in Antarctica, the Arctic, and some remote islands.

What do Chickadee and Swallow eat?

Chickadees are omnivores. They mostly eat insects, snails, spiders, worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and ants besides berries, seeds, and fruits. Occasionally the birds also eat small invertebrates and carrion.

Swallows are insectivores. They chiefly eat flies and insects like mosquitoes, wasps, bees, spiders, ants, butterflies, snails, grasshoppers, worms, bugs, moths, crickets, and beetles. They are capable of hunting their prey during flight. In winters, the birds eat berries and seeds.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Chickadee and Swallow

• Neither Chickadee nor Swallow eat Fish.
• Neither Chickadee nor Swallow eat Frogs.
• Chickadee do eat Lizards while Swallow may not eat Lizards.
• Chickadee do eat Snakes while Swallow may not eat Snakes.
• Neither Chickadee nor Swallow eat Turtles.
• Neither Chickadee nor Swallow eat Squirrels.
• Chickadee and Swallow do not eat Gophers.
• Both Chickadee and Swallow do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Mice are not eaten by both Chickadee and Swallow.

Size of Chickadee and Swallow?

When it comes to size, Chickadees are small birds. They are 2.4-5.5 inches long and have a wingspan of six to eight inches.. The size of Swallows differs based on the species. The average length is 3.9-9.4 inches, while the wingspan is about 11-12.6 inches. Mosque Swallow is one of the largest among the species. It is about 9.4 inches long. The species is native to Africa.

The weight of Chickadees depends on the species. The average weight is 0.29-0.39 ounces. while The average weight of Swallows is 0.35-2.11 ounces. Mosque Swallows, which are one of the largest Swallow birds, weigh around two ounces.

Where do Chickadee and Swallow nest?

Chickadees generally build their nests in wooded areas, four to 15 feet above the ground. They prefer tree holes and cavities. They also use boxes and birdhouses. Sometimes, the male and female partners dig cavities in the trees. The female bird chooses the nesting site and constructs the nest. The nest of Chickadees is shaped like a cup and made of twigs, leaves, and other material on the outer. It is lined with soft material like moss, rabbit fur, and feathers on the inside. Chickadee eggs are pinkish white with dark speckles. The female incubates them for 12-13 days during which time she is fed by her partner. After the eggs hatch, both partners share the duties of feeding and protecting the young ones. The chicks fledge when they are about 16 days old.

Swallows build their nests in tree holes, cavities of dead trees, nest boxes, ledges of buildings, crannies, or small craters in the ground. The birds prefer dimly lit areas to keep their nests and eggs safe from the sight of predators. Both male and female Swallows engage in nest building. The nests are shaped like cups and mostly made of mud. The birds gather mud in their bills for its construction. They also mix mud with grass and other plant material to make pellets. Swallow nests typically consist of about 1,000 pellets. It usually takes one to two weeks for the birds to complete the nest. Swallow eggs are oval with about 0.8 inches in length and 0.6 inches in width. They are plain white and could have brown speckles. The female incubates the eggs for about 14 days. The nestlings that hatch thereafter are mostly naked and do not open their eyes fully until the tenth day. They fledge when they are 18-24 days old but keep returning to the nest for many weeks.

How long do Chickadee and Swallow live?

The average lifespan of Chickadees in the wild is three to seven years. Most nestlings face threat of being eaten by hawks, owls, and other mammals that climb trees. The longest known lived Chickadee was 11 years and five months old.

The life expectancy of Swallows is very small. They are known to live for two to four years. The oldest known Swallow bird lived for a record 11 years.

Are Chickadee or Swallow migratory birds?

Chickadees are typically non-migratory. They reside in their territories throughout the year. While adult birds always stay put by huddling together in small flocks during winters, the young ones may travel long distances when population at their territories increases after breeding. However, this cannot be termed as migration. Winters are managed without migration as Chickadees have special adaptations. They have dense plumes that help them maintain body temperature during the day. At nights, they roost in flocks. The birds also stay active to keep themselves warm. Further, Chickadees store seeds and grains in summers so they don’t run out of food during winters.

Most Swallow species are migratory. Their breeding and wintering habitats are usually different. The birds usually relocate southward during winters. In Europe, Swallow species move towards Morocco and South Africa. The ones in North America and Canada travel to Central and South America. The Holarctic species migrates from North America to South Africa and even the Indian subcontinent. Barn Swallow, the national bird of Austria, spends its winters in Singapore. In Asia, Swallow species do not travel long distances for migration. They move locally or sometimes even reside in the same territory. The species in Japan migrate to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The birds from China and northern India move southward.

Do Chickadee and Swallow fly in flocks?

A flock of Chickadees is called banditry. These birds are extremely gregarious. They are friendly with birds of their own species as well as other birds. They use special calls to interact with their flocks. The birds also follow a complex social hierarchy. Chickadees mostly live in pairs during the breeding season. In other times, they live in small flocks of four to 12 birds. In winters they roost in flocks to maintain body temperature.

A group of Swallows is known as flight or gulp. The social behavior of Swallows depends on the species. Some are absolutely solitary, while some may live in pairs. Some species live in larger groups of about 200. During the breeding season, most Swallow species are solitary. However, there are a few of them that nest in colonies where about 35 pairs live together. On cold winter nights and during migration, Swallows generally flock together.

Are Chickadee or Swallow protected?

Chickadees are protected under the law in North America. According to the law, it is illegal to hunt, harm, trap or transport the birds or their nests.

Swallows are protected in some parts of the world under conservation and migratory bird laws. These laws prohibit harming of the birds and their nests.

Are Chickadee or Swallow endangered?

Chickadees are neither threatened nor endangered. They exist in booming numbers. However, their population is expected to get scattered and their habitats are likely to get distributed owing to global warming and climate change.

Some species of Swallows are threatened or endangered. Further they may be rare in some parts of the world but thriving elsewhere. For instance, Barn Swallow is the most pervasive of the species in the world. However, it is listed as threatened in Canada. The White-tailed Swallow exists in a small population in Ethiopia. It is listed as a vulnerable species. Blue Swallow from south-eastern Africa is also facing decline in population and is endangered. Swallows, like most other birds, face threats from climate change, deforestation, pesticides, and natural predators.

Can Chickadee and Swallow fly?

In flight, the wings and tail of Chickadees are spread out. The birds move up and down while flying and usually do not fly in a straight line. They flap their wings vigorously in short intervals. The maximum flying speed of Chickadees is 12 miles per hour. Chickadees either fly alone or in flocks that may also include other species of birds. They are capable of performing acrobatics while hanging on to trees or bird feeders.

Swallows spend most of their time flying. They hunt for their food while airborne and can even catch insects that are flying. The birds are built with a lean body that facilitates good aerodynamics. They also have long, wide, and sharp-edged wings that help them glide in the air. Swallows are known for their long-distance migration. They travel during the day, flying at low altitudes. Some species fly 6,000 miles two times a year. The birds travel about 320 miles a day at about 20 miles an hour during migration. Their maximum flying speed is 35 miles an hour.

Can Chickadee and Swallow swim?

Chickadees are small birds with feet adapted for perching. Therefore, they cannot swim. But the birds visit shallow waters for drinking and bathing. They are also capable of bathing in cold icy waters during winters.

Swallows are not regular and efficient swimmers. However, they can swim short distances. Even the chicks will be able to swim if they accidentally fall in water. Swallows also regularly bathe in shallow waters and puddles.

Mating patterns among Chickadee and Swallow

Chickadees attain sexual maturity when they are six to eight months old. Soon after winter, the flocks start disintegrating and the birds will become more territorial. There is no particular mating ritual that Chickadees follow. The male Chickadees become aggressive to defend their territories. Some of them also feed their partners. The male and female engage in singing and fluttering of wings during courtship. The female recites ‘dee’ multiple times to keep her partner undistracted. At the same time, she is observant of the singing competitions between her partner and other males. Chickadees generally raise only one brood each year. The clutch could have one to 13 eggs depending on the species. The female lays one egg per day. Older females lay the maximum number of eggs. The female bird incubates the eggs and also protects them from predators. She is supported by her partner after hatching to tend to the young ones.

Swallows reach sexual maturity when they are 40-50 days old. Courtship between partners begins about a week before egg laying. The male performs aerial flight and bowing displays while the female is perched at the nesting site. The partners also sing long songs during courtship and laying of eggs. The male continues to sing throughout the breeding season to defend the territory. There is usually one or two broods raised each year. Swallows lay two to six eggs in a clutch, depending on the species. While the female incubates the eggs, the male is known for his outstanding involvement as a parent.

When is the mating season for Chickadee and Swallow ?

The mating season for Chickadees occurs during April-June. The birds start pairing in the beginning of April and by the start of May they start building their nests.

The mating season for Swallows depends on the species and geography. It could be March-July or May-August. Partners engage in courtship as soon as they reach their breeding territories from the wintering sites.

Do Chickadee and Swallow mate for life?

Chickadees are usually monogamous. Their relationships last for several years or for life. In some cases, the female may dissociate from her partner if she finds another mate from a higher status in the hierarchy.

Swallows mate for life. The partners stay together until one of them dies. They also return to the same nesting site each year. Some of them may even use the same nest after renovating it.

How do Chickadee and Swallow sleep?

Chickadees sleep in tree holes, bird boxes, or ledges of buildings. They prefer to sleep alone except in winters when they huddle together with their flock. During winters, the birds eat plenty of seeds and insects to endure the long cold nights when they will not be able to venture out for foraging.

Swallows sleep on trees, ledges, tree holes, or caves. When the chicks are young, the family sleeps together at the nesting site. In non-breeding months and winters, Swallows generally sleep in flocks at common roosting sites.

Can Chickadee and Swallow be eaten?

There have been instances of people eating the meat of Chickadees in the past. However, harming and hunting of these birds is illegal under modern laws.

Swallows are eaten despite laws protecting them from any harm. It is a delicacy among people in Europe. People are also known to eat the eggs of Swallows. Further, Chinese also savour soups made from the nests of these birds.

Can you hunt Chickadee or Swallow?

Chickadees may have been hunted in the past for their meat. However, modern laws do not permit hunting, harming, or trapping of the birds.

Swallows are hunted for meat. They are also killed in some places for destroying crops and farmlands. However, it is illegal to harm or hunt the birds in some countries.

Can you feed Chickadee or Swallow?

Chickadees have never been domesticated by humans. They are nevertheless offered food at bird feeders. People usually give them sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet blends.

It is illegal and not advisable to keep Swallows as pets. At feeders, they can be given insects and kitten food.