Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Swooping gracefully through the skies, this agile flyer catches insects on the wing and heralds the arrival of spring in many parts of the world.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Barn Swallow is a sleek, small bird with a distinctive deeply forked tail and long, pointed wings. Its upperparts are glossy steel-blue, contrasting with a rusty-red forehead and throat. The underparts are buffy to white, often with a reddish wash.

Males typically have longer tail streamers and more vibrant coloration than females. Juveniles are duller, with shorter tails and a paler throat.

Size

Length

17cm to 19cm

Wingspan

32cm to 34cm

Weight

16g to 22g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Blue Orange

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Blue Orange

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Barn Swallow can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Barn Swallow can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Barn Swallow can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Barn Swallow can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Barn Swallow is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Barn Swallows have a nearly global distribution, breeding across much of the Northern Hemisphere and wintering in the Southern Hemisphere. They prefer open habitats near water, including farmlands, meadows, and suburban areas.

They are common summer visitors to the UK, USA, and Canada and can be found year-round in parts of Australia. Their adaptability to human structures has allowed them to thrive in diverse environments.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Barn Swallow. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons