ExploreBird

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

The Barn Swallow is a small bird with a beautiful blue back and a long tail. They love to fly and catch bugs on the wing, making them fun to watch!

Habitat: Open fields and near water

Appearance

The Barn Swallow has a glossy, iridescent blue-black back, a rusty-red face and throat, and a creamy white belly. Its most striking feature is a deeply forked, long tail with streamer-like outer feathers.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyHirundinidaeGenusHirundo

Barn Swallow

Interesting facts

A Barn Swallow's long tail streamers are a sign of how healthy and attractive it is to mates.

Barn Swallows often drink water by scooping it up with their lower jaw while flying low!

Barn Swallows sometimes fly very low before a storm, catching insects pushed down by air pressure!

Sometimes, young Barn Swallows will stay to help their parents feed the next brood of chicks!

Special abilities

Barn Swallows can perform amazing aerial acrobatics because of their slender bodies, helping them catch flying insects with ease.

Barn Swallows have strong saliva and mud-gathering skills that helps them construct durable, cup-shaped nests.

Barn Swallows have an internal magnetic compass that helps them navigate during their vast seasonal migrations.

Measurements & details

Length: 17-19 cm
Wingspan: 32-34.5 cm
Weight: 0.016-0.022 kg
Lifespan: 2-8 years
Top Speed: 60 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-7
Incubation: 13-17 days
Migration Distance: 10000 km

Diet & Feeding

These speedy birds are insectivores, expertly catching flying insects like flies and beetles mid-air!

Primary Foods

Flies
Mosquitoes
Beetles
Moths
Dragonflies

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

House Fly

Musca domestica

A primary food source caught mid-flight.

eaten by

Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

Hunts swallows and other small birds.

eaten by

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

Preys on nesting or fledging birds.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Aerial

Discover amazing creatures that spend much of their lives soaring high above the ground, often using wings to fly! They might hunt, travel, or even sleep up in the sky.

Grassland

These wide-open spaces are covered in grasses, often home to grazing animals and incredible predators! Experience the vastness of the plains.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.