Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

The swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a species of bird in the swallow family (Hirundinidae). In Samogitian, it is called the blezdinga. They are long-distance migrants, widely distributed and breed in the temperate and subtropical climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, and migrate far south of them before the cold season. Their range in Eurasia stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. In the north, it reaches the Kola Peninsula, the White Sea, the middle reaches of the Pechora, the lower reaches of the Ob, the middle reaches of the Yenisei, Kamchatka, and the Sea of Okhotsk. The southern border of the breeding grounds runs through southern China, Myanmar, the southern Himalayas, Iran, the Middle East, the Mediterranean Sea, and North Africa. In North America, breeding grounds are located in the temperate and subtropical climate zones. Although barn swallows traditionally breed in North America and winter in South America, in 1980 a small breeding population of barn swallows was discovered on the coast of northeastern Argentina, and since then the population of breeding pairs of this species has spread. European populations winter in Sub-Saharan Africa, populations living in the mid-latitude and subtropical climate zones of Asia winter in South Asia, Indochina, the Malacca Peninsula, the Malay Archipelago and the northern part of the Australian continent. Populations living in the mid-latitude and subtropical climate zones of North America winter in Central and South America. In Lithuania, a very common species, widespread everywhere, but lives more abundantly in plains than in forested areas. Common in rural settlements, small towns, especially in single-family homes. The country is home to the subspecies Hirundo rustica rustica. From Lithuania, they fly to Sub-Saharan Africa to the southern regions of Africa for the winter. During migration and wintering periods in Africa, ringed swallows were found in Botswana (1 bird), the Central African Republic (3), Kenya (2), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3), the Republic of South Africa (2), Zambia (2), and Zimbabwe (1). Ringed swallows were found in Lithuania in the Republic of South Africa (3 birds) and Zambia (1). This is the largest swallow species living in Lithuania. Their body length is 17-19 cm, the spread of both wings is 32-35 cm, and their weight is 16-25 g. They differ from other swallows living in Lithuania in their long, deep tail notch and the plain upper part of their body. The entire back, top of the head, wings, and tail are blackish-blue. The lower edge of the wings is white. The throat is reddish-brown. The beak is black; the legs are gray-brown. The lower part of the female's body is not so bright, the outer tail feathers are shorter.

A small figurine of a small bird, consisting of 17 parts and depicting the appearance of a life-size bird. The figurine is intended for beginner modelers, but no one forbids an experienced modeler to make it - sometimes something simple is needed. The text instructions in English are small, but quite detailed, the graphics are also not great, but sufficient for gluing the model. No color reserves are provided.