Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
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.
Northern House Martin
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Geographic Range & Migration
Barn Swallow
Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
Northern House Martin
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Barn Swallow
Least Concern
Northern House Martin
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
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
Northern House Martin
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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