Swallows · Perching birds
Barn Swallow
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Hirundo rustica
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Voice
Alarm
Song
Song
How to recognize it
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Blue-black upperparts, pale below
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Rufous forehead and throat
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Long tail, deeply forked
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Often on wires; catches insects in flight
About the species
The barn swallow feels instantly familiar on a walk. Its long, deeply forked tail and quick, agile flight make it easy to notice as it skims low over streets, yards, water, and open fields.
It is a social, restless species that often gathers on wires and other high perches, then spends much of the day on the wing. The voice is bright and twittering, ending in a familiar little trill, and males advertise themselves with song and a fanned tail.
It needs open ground, water nearby, and sheltered places for nesting, so it readily uses barns, bridges, house eaves, and similar structures. It feeds almost entirely on flying insects, and in many places it is a seasonal visitor that arrives in spring and leaves in autumn.
Where to find
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Along canal banks, pond edges, and quiet riversides — watch for low, skimming flight that almost touches the water.
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Under bridges, eaves, and the ledges of old buildings — look for neat mud cups and hear the chattering, trilling song.
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Over open lawns, vacant lots, and mown grass near water — it sweeps back and forth in shallow arcs after insects.
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On wires, roof ridges, and other exposed perches — often resting in a loose group before dropping back into the air.
