Barn Swallow vs Banded Martin
Hirundo rustica compared with Neophedina cincta
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barn Swallow | Banded Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hirundo rustica | Neophedina cincta |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Hirundinidae | Hirundinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 19.0 cm (7.5 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 26.2 cm (10.3 in) |
| Weight | 19.0 g (0.67 oz) | 24.083333333333332 g (0.85 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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
Barn Swallow
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.
Banded Martin
Geographic Range & Migration
Barn Swallow
Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
Banded Martin
Conservation Status
Barn Swallow
Banded Martin
How to Tell Them Apart
Barn Swallow
Metallic blue-black upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and pale buff to rufous underparts. Deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.
Short, wide, flat black bill adapted for catching insects in flight
Banded Martin
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.
Banded Martin
The Banded Martin is a small swallow of the family Hirundinidae found in open grasslands and wetland edges across sub-Saharan Africa. Weighing about 24.1g with a wingspan of 26.2cm, it has a distinctive dark brown breast band on pale underparts. It catches insects on the wing in sweeping aerial flights over open habitats.