pääskyt

Pääskyt is the Finnish word for swallows, a family of passerine birds known for their graceful aerial acrobatics and migratory habits. In Finland, the most commonly encountered species is the barn swallow (hiris peris), easily recognizable by its deeply forked tail and iridescent blue-black plumage. Another well-known species is the house martin (Delichon urbicum), characterized by its black upperparts and white underparts, with a more squared-off tail.

These birds are insectivores, spending a significant portion of their day in flight, catching insects on the wing. Their agile flight patterns are a hallmark of summer in Finland, often seen darting and swooping around buildings, fields, and open water. Pääskyt typically build their nests from mud, collecting small pellets of mud and mixing them with saliva. Barn swallows often construct cup-shaped nests on ledges inside barns or other outbuildings, while house martins build enclosed nests with an entrance hole, usually under eaves.

As migratory birds, pääskyt undertake long journeys to warmer climates for the winter. They typically leave Finland in late summer or early autumn and return in the spring, signaling the arrival of warmer weather. Their presence is often associated with rural landscapes and human settlements. The sight and sound of pääskyt are a familiar and often cherished part of the Finnish natural environment during the warmer months.