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25

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Alternate name(s): "Chimney Swallow", "European Swallow", "House Swallow*" Size: 17-19 cm; wing span 32-34.5 cm (race "rustica") Weight: 16-22 g (race "rustica")

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Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Barn Swallows are similar in size to other swallows, while martins are smaller. They have a chestnut throat and frons. Below the throat patch they have a glossy bluish-black band that connects to the neck, crown and back, which are also glossy bluish-black. The rest of the front, down to the undertail coverts, is also white. The tail is deeply forked, with bluish-black feathers on the uppertail and a grey undertail with white central feathers. The eyes have dark irises. The very short bill is black; the legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have a shorter tail and duller colours. Twitcher's tip Compared with Welcome Swallows, Barn Swallows have a black breast band between their chestnut throat and white chest and belly.

Taxonomy, classification See Barn Swallow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Barn Swallow is available HERE . Barn Swallows are a global species with several races that are found on all continents. Nominate race "rustica" breeds in Europe, Arabia and Asia, up to the Arctic circle, and as far South as northern Africa, the Middle East, Arabia, India and as far East as the southern Himalaya. They winter in southern Africa. Race "gutturalis" is found farther East in Asia and on Pacific islands, occasionally making their way as far South as Australia. Barn Swallows are usually found in open habitats, such as fields and paddocks, but they are also found in urban environments.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "rustica" Barn Swallows, nominate race "rustica", were spotted by us on the Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, in August-October 2009. They were absent during the winter and returned in April 2010. Race "gutturalis" Barn Swallows, race "gutturalis", were found by us in Australia.

Photos

Race "rustica"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-dorsal view of two Barn Swallows taking a short rest in a shrub
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Ventral view of a Barn Swallow in flight; note the deeply forked tail and the broad black chest band
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Barn Swallow - sometimes they can be seen with their feet dangling in flight
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Barn Swallow - note the pale throat
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Additional information

More photos of Barn Swallows, race "rustica", were taken by us in Europe.

Race "gutturalis"

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

Breeding information

For a more complete description and for breeding information, see our page about Barn Swallows in Europe.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Flock

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.

(Technically bad) frontal view of a Barn Swallow scooping water from a pond in flight
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

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.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Tue, 30 May 2023, 11:35 +00:00