From the much-loved author of The Robin, The Wren and The Twelve Birds of Christmas, Stephen Moss turns his keen naturalist’s eye to one of Britain’s most familiar visitors: the swallow.

With around 700,000 breeding pairs across the UK, the swallow is a bird many of us feel we know well. Yet we share this remarkable creature with millions of people across the globe. For half the year we watch swallows sweep through our fields and gardens, and for the other half they are travelling south to Africa, living on only in memory during the long winter months.

In The Swallow, Stephen Moss spends a full year following this extraordinary migrant, observing them both at home and out in the field. He traces their life cycle, uncovers the secrets behind their astonishing 12,000-mile round-trip migration, and explores the deep cultural connections the swallow holds in folklore and tradition.

Beautifully illustrated, this year-in-the-life portrait reveals the hidden world of one of Britain’s most beloved birds, a charismatic species whose story continues to fascinate birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.