Barn Swallow (Birds)

ORDER

Passeriformes

FAMILY

Hirundinidae

GENUS & SPECIES

Hirundo rustica
Barn Swallow

KEY FEATURES

• Nests close to
humans— in barns I and derelict buildings, beside dams and beneath bridges
• one of the most widespread birds in the world, its range has increased alongside human settlement
• A swift and agile hunter of flying insects, it follows domestic livestock herds to snap up insects in their wake

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

In summer throughout North America, Asia and Europe — in open country, farmland, grassland and parks, wherever there are suitable nesting sites; winters in South America, southern Africa and Asia
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Lifecycle

The twittering calls and aerial acrobatics of returning swallows, as they swoop and twist to catch insects with graceful ease, are a herald of spring in northern regions.

HABITAT

A Perch priorities Branches and wires make useful resting sites.
A Perch priorities Branches and wires make useful resting sites.
The supply of flying insects and availability of nesting sites are important factors determining the northern location of the swallow in summer. Insects are abundant over low, lush vegetation and shallow water; so pastures, fields, meadows and river valleys are preferred domain, especially where barns and sheds provide nesting sites nearby Bare branches, overhead wires and roof-ridges are also useful places to rest and preen in the sun.
Human activities, such as building and settlement, have helped release the species from its dependency on traditional nesting sites, such as cliffs and caves. In its southern winter habitat, the swallow finds rich insect-hunting grounds on stock-ranching land.

A HOME OF YOUR OWN

Advertising & Refurbishing
1 Advertising…
A male chooses a nest site (here an old nest on a shed wall) and displays to attract a mate, showing off the nest by pecking at it.
2 Refurbishing…
The adults collect pellets of mud in their beak to repair the nest, which may contain 1,400 mud pellets in all and weigh about 7 oz.
Furnishing
3 Furnishing…
Dry grasses and roots are woven into the mud to strengthen the structure.The nest is then lined with wool and soft, white feathers.
Hatching
4 Hatching
The downy lining insulates the eggs, which are incubated almost entirely by the female. Hatchlings soon outgrow the cozy nest.

FOOD & FEEDING

The swallow feeds on flying insects, especially flies, which it captures in aerial pursuit. It favors large insects, such as bluebottles, hoverflies and beetles; in subtropical wintering grounds it also eats termites, grasshoppers and flying ants. In any habitat, the bird often follows grazing animals — whether farm cattle or zebras — to take insects stirred up by their hoofs. In poor weather, the bird may also dip into flowers to pick off insects or land on beaches to eat sandhoppers.
When there are young to be fed, feeding is even busier Large, stout-bodied flies are the main food for early summer broods, but smaller prey, such as swarming greenfly, become more
important for later broods. The swallow catches several insects at a time and compresses them into a ball in the throat to feed to the nestlings.
► Dip and sip
The swallow dives and scoops water in its bill.

BREEDING

Older birds are the first to return to the breeding grounds and take the best sites. Unpaired males make a nest, then display to attract a mate, circling near the nest and twittering loudly. If a female is attracted, the male shows her the nest as proof of his prowess and they then mate.The female lays four or five eggs at daily intervals. She incubates after laying the last egg, so all the eggs hatch together two weeks later. Young are fed by both parents and grow rapidly. They first fly in three weeks and are fed for another week, but may stay nearby for another month.
Early nesters can then rear a second clutch, even a third in good summers. Pairs often stay together for life, but because the swallow has an average lifespan of only 19 months, many adults have to seek a new mate the following breeding season.
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CONSERVATION

The number of swallows soared in North America and Europe as settlers cleared woodland and erected buildings, offering new nest sites, such as bridges. However, the bird is now declining in some areas of the wild in the wake of intensive agriculture and the removal of old barns.

BEHAVIOR

Through the year, the swallow spends much time preening its feathers with its bill to keep them in peak flight condition. The bird also bathes by dipping into water while in flight.
The swallow is highly social. In the summer, it can often be seen feeding in large flocks, uttering busy “witt-witt” calls to keep in contact with others.
Colder weather in autumn brings a sharp decline in flying insects. Accordingly the swallow flies south, setting off in small groups to spend the winter in South America, southern Africa or southern Asia. The barn swallows return north in the spring in preparation for breeding.
Ready, get set... Swallows line up on wires before migrating in fall.
Ready, get set… Swallows line up on wires before migrating in fall.
Till death do us part The swallow pairs for life and will stay close by when its mate dies.
Till death do us part The swallow pairs for life and will stay close by when its mate dies.
When swallows disappeared from northern regions in fall, it was once thought that they buried themselves in the mud or hid in caves to hibernate through the winter.
A migrating flock in Nigeria had 50,000 swallows.
One swallow nest was used every year for 48 years by different breeding pairs.

Profile

Barn Swallow

Scythelike wings and elongated tail streamers give the barn swallow the maneuverability it needs to pursue and catch insects on the wing.
Barn Swallow

CREATURE COMPARISONS

All swallows have long wings and tails for maneuverable flight, but the barn swallow’s tail is among the longest of any species.The North American tree swallow has a squarer tail and is less aerobatic in confined spaces, such as woodland edges. Both the bank swallow and the related, similar-looking European house martin have a shorter tail.
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VITAL STATISTICS

Weight 0.6-0.7 oz.
Length 6.6-7.3″
WlNGSPAN 13-13.6″
‘Sexual Maturity 1 year
Breeding 1 Season March-September
Number j of Eggs Usually 4 or 5
Incubation Period 11-19 days
Fledging Period 18-23 days
Breeding Interval 1-3 clutches in a year, depending on the weather
Typical Diet Flying insects, especially flies
Lifespan Up to 15 years, average is only 19 months

RELATED SPECIES

• All 74 swallow and martin species, including the purple martin (below), feed on flying insects. They are in most regions, except the poles and remote islands. They’re unrelated to the similar-looking swifts, from a separate order, Apodiformes.
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