Barn Swallow vs African Plain Martin
Hirundo rustica compared with Riparia paludicola
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barn Swallow | African Plain Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hirundo rustica | Riparia paludicola |
| 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) | 20.2 cm (8.0 in) |
| Weight | 19.0 g (0.67 oz) | 12.316666666666668 g (0.43 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Barn Swallow only
None
African Plain Martin 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
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.
African Plain 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.
African Plain Martin
Conservation Status
Barn Swallow
African Plain 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
African Plain 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.
African Plain Martin
The African Plain Martin is a small, brown swallow of the Hirundinidae family, with a wingspan near 20 cm and a weight of just 12 g. It nests in burrows along river banks and lake shores across much of Africa, feeding on insects caught in low, gliding flight over water.