# What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230 "2002-04-17T23:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/1 "2002-04-17T23:53:41Z")
Sorry. This is a serious question, really. I promise! Does anyone here know, or have any idea where to find, the speed at which a swallow flies? Any type of swallow, as long as I can say “The airspeed velocity of a [insert-type] swallow is [insert number] [kmh/mph].” I’m looking for an actual number, not a Monty Python gag response. Google has, for the first time, failed me utterly. Searching through past threads only yields discussions on the merits of swallowing various body fluids. So, teeming millions, enlighten me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/2 "2002-04-18T00:06:57Z")
Geez, I’d say you could just make something up, within reason. Surely not all swallows (African or European) fly at the same rate. Some are bound to be faster, some slower. Let’s go with…hmmm…10 miles per hour, or 16 km/h. Who’s going to prove you wrong? Someone who’s clocked every single swallow? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/3 "2002-04-18T00:23:02Z")
I have flown with Barn and Tree swallows (me in a glider) and can tell you that typical speeds are something like 30-35 mph. Their favorite pastime is catching small insects. They are extremely maneuverable and can certainly fly much faster than 35 mph when they wish to. They can also do a “near hover” maneuver, which they often use briefly when entering their nests, or passing food to babies in a nest. As you no doubt realize, “airspeed velocity” is redundant; “airspeed” should suffice unless you’re trying to be faithful to MPATHG. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/4 "2002-04-18T00:35:14Z")
YOU MUST FIRST PROVIDE US WITH… **A SHRUBBERY**! ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/5 "2002-04-18T01:27:14Z")
From [this site](http://www.birdbarrier.com/BirdBarrier/Site%20Pages/Swallows_id.htm): > [@](#): > > **Flight Speed** > 15-45 mph ---
**Author:** ![KinSaba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@KinSaba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinSaba)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/6 "2002-04-18T01:38:12Z")
Fdisk says > [@](#): > > I’m looking for an actual number, not a Monty Python gag response. Get real. You can’t post a question like this and expect us to just ignore the possibilities. Where did you get the coconuts? ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/7 "2002-04-18T04:18:28Z")
**KinSaba** : Actually, Monty Python gag responses are fine, I just wanted to make sure that the thread did include SOME real responses so I got the required information, and that the mods didn’t assume this was a troll thread. **Xema** , **Darwin’s Finch** : Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can now die in peace knowing the answer to this question. ---
**Author:** ![abel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/8 "2002-04-18T04:44:39Z")
Very appropriate that a finch knew the answer to the question. Now you must go and cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with… A HERRING!!! ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/9 "2002-04-18T05:23:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by abel \* > \*\*Very appropriate that a finch knew the answer to the question. > > Now you must go and cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with… A HERRING!!! \*\* What? I shall do no such thing! ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/10 "2002-04-18T07:19:34Z")
SILENCE!!! ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/11 "2002-04-18T07:20:41Z")
ni ---
**Author:** ![abel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/12 "2002-04-18T07:30:18Z")
ecky ecky ecky pookang zoop boink zhowli zhiv LOL ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/13 "2002-04-18T10:14:57Z")
Run away! Run away! ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/14 "2002-04-18T11:03:16Z")
Its only a model. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/15 "2002-04-18T13:47:37Z")
an African or European Swallow? I don’t know that…AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! This thread locked in 5…4…3…2… ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/16 "2002-04-18T17:10:54Z")
Look at the bones!!! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/17 "2002-04-18T17:41:09Z")
How often do you ever see a laden swallow? ---
**Author:** ![abel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/18 "2002-04-18T18:09:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*How often do you ever see a laden swallow? \*\* They could carry their cargo on a string, under the dorsal guidance feathers. ---
**Author:** ![GopherGod72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@GopherGod72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GopherGod72)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/19 "2002-04-18T19:02:27Z")
Alright, STOP! This thread has gotten SILLY! ---
**Author:** ![KinSaba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@KinSaba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinSaba)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230/20 "2002-04-19T00:06:11Z")
> [@](#): > > They could carry their cargo on a string, under the dorsal guidance feathers. It’s not a question of where he grips it. It’s a simple matter of weight ratios. A 5 ounce bird cannot carry a … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-airspeed-velocity-of-an-unladen-swallow/104230.md?page=2)