The Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) was named by ornithologist John Gould because its arrival in southern Australia was a welcome sign of spring. Sailors also popularized the name because spotting the bird at sea meant land was close. Its scientific name, Hirundo neoxena, translates to "new visiting stranger" in Latin and Greek. They love to build nests on man-made structures like bridges, building walls, and house porches – they make cup-shaped nests out of mud pellets mixed with dried grass, lined inside with soft feathers or fur. They are found across Australia, New Zealand, and nearby Pacific islands.
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