The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread swallow species globally, found on all continents, even Antarctica. It has blue upperparts and a long, forked tail. In Anglophone Europe, it’s simply known as the swallow. There are six subspecies that breed in the Northern Hemisphere, with two having limited ranges in the Nile valley and eastern Mediterranean, while the others winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
This bird prefers open areas and typically nests in man-made structures, building a cup nest from mud pellets. Its insect-eating habits make it welcome among humans, a relationship reinforced by cultural superstitions. The barn swallow appears frequently in literature and is the national bird of Austria and Estonia.
The adult male barn swallow (H. r. rustica) measures 17–19 cm long, including elongated tail feathers, with a wingspan of 32–34.5 cm and a weight of 16–22 g. It has steel blue upperparts, a rufous forehead, and off-white underparts separated by a dark blue breast band. The female is similar but with shorter tail streamers and less glossy coloration. Juveniles are browner with paler features and lack long tail streamers.
Barn swallows are known for their calls, including a sharp “siflitt” for predators and a loud “splee-plink.” They are easily distinguished from similar species by their red face and blue breast band. Their habitat preference includes open areas like pastures and meadows, avoiding wooded or urban locations. They often nest in groups, returning to the same sites annually.
Breeding occurs across the Northern Hemisphere, avoiding deserts, while in winter, they thrive in open habitats worldwide, favoring regions like burnt sugarcane fields. They form large communal roosts for protection against predators, returning to the same wintering sites yearly.
Barn swallows migrate long distances, and their flight speed is estimated at 11–20 m/s. They mostly feed in open areas, catching insects on the wing.
