- Lifespan
- 4–8 years in the wild, with records of individuals reaching 16 years
- Size & Weight
- 17–19 cm long, wingspan 16–22 cm; 16–22 g
- Habitat
- Open countryside with grassland, farmland, and wetlands near water bodies, often nesting in buildings and structures.
- UK Distribution
- Summer breeding visitor found throughout the UK from April to October; arrives from African wintering grounds and departs in late summer and autumn.
- Diet
- Exclusively insectivorous, feeding on small flying insects caught in flight including flies, gnats, midges, and small beetles.
- Prey
- Flying insects (Diptera, small Hymenoptera, Coleoptera)
- Predators
- Eurasian sparrowhawk, hobby, merlin, and domestic cats; eggs and chicks occasionally taken by magpies, jays, and rats
- Mating Season
- April to August
- Breeding
- Typically 3–5 eggs per clutch; incubation period 14–16 days; fledging at 17–24 days; usually 1–2 broods per season
- Behaviour
- Highly gregarious and social, often seen in flocks especially during migration. Males are highly territorial during breeding season and perform acrobatic courtship displays. Known for their distinctive twittering calls and rapid, agile flight.