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Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Least Concern

Comprimento

19,0 cm

Envergadura

33,0 cm

Peso

19,0 g

Família

Hirundinidae

Ordem

Passeriformes

Sobre

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.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Body Length	19,0 cm	7.5 in
Envergadura	33,0 cm	13.0 in
Peso	19,0 g	0.67 oz

Identificação

Plumagem

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

Bico

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

Habitat & Range

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

🌿 Wetland 🌾 Grassland 🏖️ Coastal

Distribuição geográfica

Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.

Diet & Feeding

Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by skimming water surfaces.

Estado de conservação

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportamento e reprodução

Nidificação

Nest type: CP. Incubation: 13-16 days. Fledging: 18-27 days.

Tamanho da postura

2-7

Som

Canto

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.

Taxonomia

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordem	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Família	Hirundinidae (Swallows & Martins)
Genus	Hirundo
Espécies	Hirundo rustica

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
German	Rauchschwalbe
Spanish	Golondrina Común

Distribution

Barn Swallow has been recorded in 10 countries.

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Presente Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇻🇪 Venezuela 🇺🇸 United States 🇸🇪 Sweden

External Databases

Perguntas frequentes

What does the Barn Swallow eat?

Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by skimming water surfaces.

Where does the Barn Swallow live?

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

Is the Barn Swallow endangered?

The Barn Swallow has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Barn Swallow nest?

Nest type: CP. Incubation: 13-16 days. Fledging: 18-27 days.

What does the Barn Swallow sound like?

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.

How big is the Barn Swallow?

The Barn Swallow has a body length of 19.0 cm, wingspan of 33.0 cm, weight of 19.0 g.

What order and family does the Barn Swallow belong to?

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) belongs to the order Passeriformes and the family Hirundinidae.