Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Aves › Passeriformes › Hirundinidae › Hirundo
Conservation status: least_concern
The Barn Swallow is a small, sleek bird with a deeply forked tail, glossy blue-black upperparts, and a distinctive rust-colored throat and forehead that make it instantly recognizable in flight. It's famous for skimming low over fields and water to catch insects mid-air with acrobatic precision, and it traditionally nests in barns and under the eaves of buildings.
How To Identify
A medium-sized swallow characterized by a sleek body, iridescent dark blue back, and often a contrasting rusty or warm reddish throat patch.
Habitat
Open countryside, farmland, and wetlands; nests inside barns and outbuildings.
Behaviour
The Barn Swallow catches insects entirely in flight, skimming low over fields and water surfaces.
Native Range
The barn swallow is native to all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica.
Did You Know?
Barn Swallows can travel over 11,000 km on migration between Europe and southern Africa.
Create a free account to log your sightings of the Barn Swallow, see where it has been recorded near you and build your Wild List.
Privacy · Terms · Credits · Join the beta