Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
- GenusHirundo (Typical Swallows)
- SpeciesHirundo neoxena (Welcome Swallow)
The welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae that is native to Australia and nearby islands. It has self-introduced into New Zealand in the middle of the twentieth century. It is very similar to the Pacific swallow with which it is often considered conspecific. This species breeds in southern and eastern Australia in a variety of habitats, mostly in open areas, man-made clearings or urban environments, but not desert or dense forest. Eastern populations are largely migratory, wintering in northern Australia. Western birds and those in New Zealand are mainly sedentary. Wikipedia →
60–70% of wildlife watchers report a Welcome Swallow sighting in Maria Island National Park, based on 179 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Maria Island National Park
Tree Martin
Petrochelidon nigricans
Australian Magpie
Gymnorhina tibicen
Yellow Wattlebird
Anthochaera paradoxa
Grey Fantail
Rhipidura albiscapa
Flame Robin
Petroica phoenicea
Black Currawong
Strepera fuliginosa
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Black-headed Honeyeater
Melithreptus affinis
Forest Raven
Corvus tasmanicus
Scarlet Robin
Petroica boodang
New Holland Honeyeater
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Welcome Swallow in Maria Island National Park?
About 64% of wildlife watchers report a Welcome Swallow sighting in Maria Island National Park, based on 179 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Welcome Swallow in Maria Island National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Welcome Swallow in Maria Island National Park in our monthly data.