Editing Welcome swallow (section)

==Distribution and habitat==
The winter range in northern Australia overlaps with that of wintering [[barn swallow]] (''Hirundo rustica''), but the latter is readily separable by its blue breast band.<ref name=Turner>{{cite book |title=Swallows & Martins: An Identification Guide and Handbook |last=Turner |first=Angela K |author2=Rose, Chris |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |year=1989 |isbn=0-395-51174-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/swallowsmartinsi00turn }}</ref> Welcome swallows readily breed close to human habitation. Welcome swallows are commonly found on wires, posts and other perches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Hirundo-neoxena|title=Welcome Swallow|publisher=Birds in Backyards|access-date=23 December 2010}}</ref>

=== Natural global range ===
Welcome swallows have a very large distributional range because they are a cross-regional species.<ref name=nzbirdsonline/> Welcome swallows live mostly in eastern, western, southern and central Australia. The welcome swallows that live in eastern Australia move to northern Australia in winter. The welcome swallows that live in Western Australia and others that live in New Zealand are mostly not migratory.<ref name=EOL>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://eol.org/pages/1050772/overview|title= ''Hirundo neoxena'' {{ndash}} Welcome Swallow| encyclopedia= Encyclopedia of Life}}</ref> This swallow species has been observed nesting in the majority of New Zealand and its surrounding islands, Australia and some parts of Tasmania.<ref name="Marchant & Fullgar ">{{cite journal | last1= Marchant | first1= S. |last2=Fullgar | first2= P.J| year=1982 | title=Nest Records of the Welcome Swallow | journal=Emu |volume=83 | issue = 2  |pages=67–74 |doi=10.1071/MU9830066}}</ref>  Currently, this species has been recorded in New Guinea, New Caledonia and other surrounding islands. The distribution of the welcome swallow also depends on seasonal change. During the winter, the welcome swallow in Australia will move towards the north which places it closer to the equator and warm weather. For the following spring, they will return to southern Australia to breed.<ref name=EOL/>

=== New Zealand range ===
The welcome swallow is a self-introduced species from Australia that is believed to have flown over to New Zealand in the early 1900s.<ref name=nzbirdsonline/> The welcome swallow is found throughout most parts of New Zealand, but it is very rare in Fiordland.<ref name=nzbirdsonline/> The shape of New Zealand is narrow and long, which helped the birds to easily get to areas near water. They are also on Chatham and Kermadec Islands and in some instances have been seen on Campbell Island, Auckland Island and the Snares.<ref name=nzbirdsonline/>

=== Habitat preferences ===
Although welcome swallows are more often near coastal and wetland areas, they can live in almost all types of habitat, except alpine areas and very dense forest.<ref name=nzbirdsonline/> They have been documented in open areas such as farmlands, grasslands, partly cleared areas that are wooded, lands associated with bodies of water such as lakes or reservoirs, and along coastlines.<ref name="Marchant & Fullgar "/>  This species is well-adapted for urban and suburban life as well; it is even able to live in high altitude areas due to the provision of nesting materials provided by humans.<ref name="Marchant & Fullgar "/> During winter, welcome swallows move to a warmer habitat which can provide them enough food and safe shelter.<ref name=Higgins>{{cite book | editor1-last=Higgins | editor1-first=P.J. | editor2-last=Peter | editor2-first=J.M. | editor3-last=Cowling | editor3-first=S.J. | year=2006 | chapter=''Hirundo neoxena'' Welcome swallow | title=Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds | volume=7, Boatbill to Starlings; Part 7B, Dunnock to Starling | location=Melbourne, Victoria | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0-19-553996-7 | pages=1517–1548 | chapter-url=https://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/sites/all/files/340_Welcome%20Swallow_0.pdf }}</ref>