Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
(Hirundo rustica)
Barn Swallow nest
Photo © René Corado
Barn Swallow eggs
Photo © René Corado
Barn Swallow
Photo © Sharon Beals, from the collection of the California Academy of Sciences
Barn Swallow nest
Photo © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Adult (American)
Photo © Mason Maron / Macaulay Library
Adult (American)
Photo © Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay Library
Adult (White-bellied)
Photo © Erkki Lehtovirta / Macaulay Library
Adult (White-bellied)
Photo © Pavel Štěpánek / Macaulay Library
Adult (Buff-bellied)
Photo © Itamar Donitza / Macaulay Library
Adult (Tytler's)
Photo © Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Adult (Levant)
Photo © Eric Francois Roualet / Macaulay Library
Adult (Egyptian)
Photo © Fabio Olmos / Macaulay Library
Adult (American)
Photo © Ad Konings / Macaulay Library
Adult (American)
Photo © Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay Library
Adult (White-bellied)
Photo © Huw Roberts / Macaulay Library
Juvenile (American)
Photo © Farshad Pourmalek / Macaulay Library
Immature (Levant)
Photo © yuda siliki / Macaulay Library
Juvenile (White-bellied)
Photo © Teresa Cohen / Macaulay Library
Juvenile (American)
Photo © Laure Wilson Neish / Macaulay Library
Adult (American)
Photo © Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay Library
Adult (American)
Photo © Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Flock (American)
Photo © George Gerdts / Macaulay Library
Song (American)
© Dave Herr / Macaulay Library
Song (American)
© Lang Elliott / Macaulay Library
Calls (American)
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls (American)
© Ed Pandolfino / Macaulay Library
Calls (American)
© Mike Andersen / Macaulay Library
Calls (American)
© Glen Chapman / Macaulay Library
Calls (American)
© Nathan Pieplow
Song (White-bellied)
© Gregory Budney / Macaulay Library
Calls (White-bellied)
© Gregory Budney / Macaulay Library
Calls (White-bellied)
© Gregory Budney / Macaulay Library
Song (Tytler's)
© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls (Tytler's)
© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Song (Buff-bellied)
© Boris N. Veprintsev
Calls (Buff-bellied)
© Boris N. Veprintsev
Where To Find It
Source: Birds of the World
Habitats
Substrates
What You'll Find
Nest Type
Chick
Clutch Size
Nest Height
Nesting Statistics
Incubation Period
days
Brooding Period
days
Useful Hints
- Breeding areas must contain a source of mud (such as a river bank) for incorporation into the nest structure. In drought-prone areas, you can make a Barn Swallow nest cup.
- Barn Swallows will sometimes reuse old nests, but they avoid ones heavily infested with mites or parasites. They will clean out the old feathers and add new mud to the rim.
- Barn Swallows once nested in caves throughout North America, but now build their nests almost exclusively on human-made structures.