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25

Barn Swallow

(Hirundo rustica)
Alternate name(s): "Chimney Swallow", "European Swallow", "House Swallow*"
German name(s): "Rauchschwalbe"

Size: 17-19 cm; wing span: 32-34.5 cm (race "rustica")
Weight: 16-22 g (race "rustica")

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Barn Swallow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "rustica"

ADULT

PAIR

Near-frontal view of a pair of Barn Swallows on their roost near the nest (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger & Fink family)
[Eltille, Rheingau, Germany, July 2016]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a pair of Barn Swallows on a power line (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Wizna, Podlachia, Poland, May 2016]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Frontal view of a Barn Swallow looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Frontal view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2017]

Frontal/ventral view of a Barn Swallow near its nest in a shed (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger & Fink family)
[Eltille, Rheingau, Germany, July 2016]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Barn Swallow looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moreanes, near Mertola, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Wizna, Podlachia, Poland, May 2016]

Near-lateral view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2016]

Near-lateral view of a Barn Swallow calling (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Wizna, Podlachia, Poland, May 2016]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, July 2022]

Near-lateral/ventral view of 4 Barn Swallows (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2022]

Lateral view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2020]

Lateral view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]

Lateral view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Kaczkowo near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Group of Barn Swallows preening in a shrub (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Near Temerin, Serbia, July 2017]

Frontal view of a Barn Swallow launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Barn Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Barn Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Alto Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Barn Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2022]

Lateral/ventral view of a Barn Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a Barn Swallow flying without tail streamers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2022]

Dorsal view of a Barn Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Dorsal view of a Barn Swallow that has just dipped into water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Ventral view of a Barn Swallow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2022]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow, right, with an adult (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque Ecologico do Gameiro, Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2022]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow, centre, between two Sand Martins (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc du Sausset, 20 km North of Paris, France, July 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, June 2021]

Juvenile Barn Swallows on a fence (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2017]

Barn Swallow "rookery" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

Frontal view of juvenile Barn Swallows waiting to be fed (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Kals, Osttirol, Austria, July 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Kaczkowo near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, June 2015]

Lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow, here seen begging (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Kaczkowo near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, June 2015]

Frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Barn Swallow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2018]

Race "gutturalis"

Photos of Barn Swallows, race "gutturalis", were obtained by us in Australia.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - Aug Eggs: 4 - 5 Incubation period: 14 - 19 days Fledging age: 18 - 23 days

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and can start in February in southern parts of the range. Barn Swallows usually have two broods per season. They can breed in alpine areas of up to 2700 m (3000 m in North America).

Nest building: Female & male Incubation: Mostly female Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Mud bowl Material: Mud, feathers Height above ground: 2 - ? m

Clutch of four near-flegding age Barn Swallow chicks in their nest (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger & Fink family)
[Eltille, Rheingau, Germany, July 2016]

Frontal portrait of a Barn Swallow on its nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Kaczkowo near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Barn Swallow nest under an awning (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Wizna, Podlachia, Poland, May 2016]

Barn Swallow collecting nesting material from the edge of a puddle (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2016]

Lateral view of a Barn Swallow collecting mud (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Eggs

Size: 20 x 14 mm Colour: White, with dark-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Flock

Barn Swallows gathering in a dying tree in preparation for their migration to Africa (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, September 2020]

Barn Swallows preening and congregating for their migration to Africa (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Lake Constance, Germany, September 2022]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small insects Dependents: As adults Water intake: Daily(?)

Like all other swallows known to us, Barn Swallows are insect hunters. They feed in-flight on small insects.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

bswallow_jp_20200625.m4a rustica
(Portugal)
Contact calls © JP
bswallow_dw_20170729.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Contact calls (in flight) © DW
bswallow_dw_20170729_2.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Contact calls (in flight) © DW
bswallow_dw_20160902.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Contact calls(?) © DW
bswallow_dw_20170729_1.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Group chatter © DW
bswallow_dw_20160520_1.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Group chatter © DW
bswallow_dw_20180819.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Group chatter © DW
bswallow_hds_20200906.m4a rustica
(Germany)
Congregating for migration © HDS
bswallow_dw_20170729_0.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Various (in flight) © DW
bswallow_dw_20170729_2.m4a rustica
(Poland)
Various (in flight) © DW
bswallow_jp_20220217.mp3 rustica
(Poland)
Various © JP
bswallow_hds_20200906_2.m4a rustica
(Germany)
? © HDS
bswallow_dw_20160520_2.m4a rustica
(Poland)
? © DW

More Barn Swallow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.