Looks like it is signed Mats Jonasson, no idea about date but could well be quite recent.
With that tail and looking at the head it's probably a swallow.
John
thanks john for your reply..
I purchased this in 2002 via auction...not sure it was "new" then....
It is not listed in any web stores in any of the bird categories-so not thinking it is recent...I thought swallow also, though it also looks like it could be some kind of a seashore bird with that beak and illusion of capped head ..reminding me of some kind of ocean skimmer? I have seen....but then..I am totally confused......!!!!!!!!!!!!