Barn Swallow vs European Bee-eater
Hirundo rustica comparé à Merops apiaster
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Barn Swallow | European Bee-eater |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Hirundo rustica | Merops apiaster |
| Ordre | Passeriformes | Coraciiformes |
| Famille | Hirundinidae | Meropidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 19,0 cm (7.5 in) | 28,0 cm (11.0 in) |
| Envergure | 33,0 cm (13.0 in) | 38,0 cm (15.0 in) |
| Poids | 19,0 g (0.67 oz) | 56,0 g (1.98 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … | Primarily bees, wasps, and hornets caught in flight. Removes stingers by beating prey against a … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-7 | 4-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Barn Swallow only
European Bee-eater only
Aucun(e)
Barn Swallow
Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.
European Bee-eater
Open country with scattered trees, sandy banks, and river cliffs for nesting. Breeds in colonies in tunnels dug into earth banks.
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.
European Bee-eater
A liquid, melodic 'pruik-pruik' or rolling 'prruup-pruup' in flight. Flocks give a distinctive far-carrying bubbling call audible before birds are seen. Considered a pleasant sound.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barn Swallow
Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
European Bee-eater
Southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Winters in tropical Africa. A long-distance migrant.
Statut de conservation
Barn Swallow
European Bee-eater
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
European Bee-eater
Richly colored with a chestnut-brown crown and back, golden-yellow scapulars, turquoise-blue underparts, and a black eye stripe. Central tail feathers are elongated.
Long, slender, slightly decurved black bill
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.
European Bee-eater
The European bee-eater is one of the most colorful birds in Europe, displaying a rainbow palette of chestnut, gold, and turquoise. True to their name, bee-eaters specialize in catching venomous insects, skillfully removing the stinger before consumption. They nest in colonies, excavating tunnel burrows up to two meters into sandy banks.