Bird
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaAlso known as Swallow, Common Swallow, European Swallow
Barn swallows cut through the air with extraordinary agility, catching flying insects on the wing above meadows, ponds, and pastures. Pairs build cup-shaped mud nests tucked beneath eaves, inside barns, or under bridges, lining them with grass and feathers. Before autumn arrives, thousands gather on utility lines to prepare for long transcontinental migrations.
MigratoryInsectivoreAerial Acrobat
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFlies, Beetles, Midges
Predators
- Domestic Cat
- Peregrine Falcon
- Eastern Screech-Owl
ThreatsPesticide usage, loss of nesting structures, and insect population declines
HabitatsFarmland, pastures, open fields, wetlands, and suburban areas
Life span4–8 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyHirundinidae
- GenusHirundo
- SpeciesHirundo rustica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Avoid Nest Disturbance: Keep a respectful distance from active mud nests tucked under barn eaves during the breeding season.
- Provide Water and Mud: Maintain a shallow muddy patch nearby to help breeding pairs collect nest-building material.
- Limit Pesticides: Reduce outdoor chemical treatments to support the abundance of flying insects swallows need.
Competitor "Tree Swallow" by born1945 is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Frequent Companion Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Predator Mykola Swarnyk / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Don DeBold / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Kristiina Hurme, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kristiina Hurme · cc-by
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