Barn Swallow vs Common Kingfisher

Hirundo rustica से तुलना Alcedo atthis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

विशेषता Barn Swallow Common Kingfisher
वैज्ञानिक नाम Hirundo rustica Alcedo atthis
गण Passeriformes Coraciiformes
कुल Hirundinidae Alcedinidae
संरक्षण स्थिति Least Concern Least Concern
लंबाई 19.0 cm (7.5 in) 17.0 cm (6.7 in)
पंखों का फैलाव 33.0 cm (13.0 in) 25.0 cm (9.8 in)
वजन 19.0 g (0.67 oz) 36.0 g (1.27 oz)
आहार Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst …
अंडों की संख्या 2-7 3-10
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Barn Swallow 19.0 cm
Common Kingfisher 17.0 cm
पंखों का फैलाव
Barn Swallow 33.0 cm
Common Kingfisher 25.0 cm
वजन
Barn Swallow 19.0 g
Common Kingfisher 36.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

साझा आवास

Barn Swallow only

कोई नहीं

Common Kingfisher only

कोई नहीं

Barn Swallow

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

Common Kingfisher

Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.

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Song & Call Comparison

Barn Swallow

गीत

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.

Common Kingfisher

गीत

A sharp, penetrating 'chee' whistle given in flight, often the first indication of its presence. Short, shrill single note as it darts low over rivers. Contact call is a rippling …

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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.

Common Kingfisher

Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter.

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संरक्षण स्थिति

Least Concern

Barn Swallow

Least Concern

Common Kingfisher

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How to Tell Them Apart

Barn Swallow

पंख

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

चोंच

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

Common Kingfisher

पंख

Brilliant electric blue upperparts and orange underparts. Blue-green crown with darker barring. White throat patch and cheek spots. A flash of blue in flight.

चोंच

Long, straight, dagger-like dark bill — orange base on the lower mandible in females

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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.

Common Kingfisher

The common kingfisher is a dazzling jewel of waterways, its iridescent blue plumage caused by light refraction in the feather structure rather than pigment. These birds inspired the design of the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan — the shape of their bill was copied to reduce sonic booms when trains exit tunnels.

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