Species Guide: Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Family: Hirundinidae
APPEARANCE
Barn Swallows are identifiable by their dark blue color and cream-colored underside. Notably, one of their most striking features is their tail, which has two distinctive streamers in flight. They possess long, blue-black wings that appear curved and slender when the birds are perched. Their throat and forehead are dark, while juveniles exhibit a rusty-buff coloration. The nape and crown of the swallow are also blue-black.
Diet
Barn Swallows primarily feed on flies and aphids, which they catch mid-air. They drink water by skimming low over lakes or rivers, scooping it up with their open beaks.
HABITAT
Barn Swallows are commonly found in open fields, often near water and farmland where flying insects are plentiful. In autumn, swallows gather in flocks, frequently observed on telephone wires alongside martins. Throughout the summer, they can be seen flying overhead or bringing food to their nests beneath eaves.
In the UK, Barn Swallows are summer visitors, arriving in April and usually departing by late September. They can be seen pretty much anywhere in the British Isles. When they leave the UK, they migrate across the Sahara desert to reach their wintering grounds in southern Africa.
Did You Know? Until the late 19th century, people theorized that Barn Swallows hibernated underwater.
Note that this map is for a rough illustration of animal distribution across the UK1, whereby light green indicates established breeding populations.
Behavior
The appearance of male tail streamers influences female swallows’ mating choices; those with more symmetrical streamers are preferred, as this characteristic is considered a sign of good health and strong genetics for potential offspring.
Barn Swallows typically produce two to three clutches of about four eggs each year. Their nests are cup-like structures built on sheltered ledges, beams, and joists in sheds and outbuildings, constructed from mud and interwoven grasses, and they may reuse these nests season after season. After a few weeks, the nestlings are fully fledged but continue to receive care and feeding from their parents for some time.
Barn Swallow Call:
Jarek Matusiak xeno-canto.org
STATS
| Wing Length2 | 121-131 mm |
| Body Weight2 | 17.2-23 grams |
| Longevity | 2 Years |
NATURAL PREDATORS
Due to their agility in flight, the Barn Swallow has few predators, but some are taken by Sparrowhawk, Falcons & Owls. Their nests can be susceptible to predation by mammals, but they tend to avoid this by building their nests in inaccessible places.
Conservation Status
U.K.
Conservation Status
Global
Conservation Status
References
- European Bird Breeding Atlas
- Featherbase
