The RSPB Spotlight series introduces a selection of iconic UK wildlife to the general reader. This latest title focuses upon the swallow and the swift, two well-known birds that, although unrelated, are often combined – and, indeed, confused – in the popular imagination. This highly readable study looks closely at both birds, examining both their differences and similarities. Separate chapters cover all aspects of their biology and lifestyle, from their mind-boggling migrations to the mud construction of their nests. Traditional heralds of the European summer, swallows and swifts have many things in common. Both feed on aerial insects and are thus similarly adapted for an aerial lifestyle, with long wings, aerodynamic bodies and fast agile flight. Both have a penchant for breeding on or around buildings, bringing them into close contact with people. And both are long-distance migrants, departing our insect-free shores in autumn to spend winter in sub-Saharan Africa then ...