White-thighed Swallow vs Barn Swallow

Atticora tibialis compared with Hirundo rustica

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute White-thighed Swallow Barn Swallow
Scientific Name Atticora tibialis Hirundo rustica
Order Passeriformes Passeriformes
Family Hirundinidae Hirundinidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 19.0 cm (7.5 in)
Wingspan 17.6 cm (6.9 in) 33.0 cm (13.0 in)
Weight 11.0 g (0.39 oz) 19.0 g (0.67 oz)
Diet -- Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by …
Clutch Size -- 2-7
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
White-thighed Swallow
Barn Swallow 19.0 cm
Wingspan
White-thighed Swallow 17.6 cm
Barn Swallow 33.0 cm
Weight
White-thighed Swallow 11.0 g
Barn Swallow 19.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

White-thighed Swallow only

Barn Swallow only

Barn Swallow

Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.

Song & Call Comparison

White-thighed Swallow

Barn Swallow

Song

A rapid, twittering song: a long stream of 'vit-vit-vit' and rolling chirps. Also gives a sharp 'vit' flight call. Song can last many minutes without pause. Musical and liquid.

Geographic Range & Migration

White-thighed Swallow

Barn Swallow

Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

White-thighed Swallow

Least Concern

Barn Swallow

How to Tell Them Apart

White-thighed Swallow

Barn Swallow

Plumage

Metallic blue-black upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and pale buff to rufous underparts. Deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.

Bill

Short, wide, flat black bill adapted for catching insects in flight

About These Birds

Barn Swallow

The barn swallow is the most widespread swallow species in the world and has one of the longest migrations of any passerine. Its arrival signals spring across the Northern Hemisphere, inspiring cultural references from ancient Greece to modern poetry. Barn swallows have become almost entirely dependent on human structures for nesting.

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