Barn Swallow

Species Profile

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Barn Swallow

Quick Facts

Conservation

LCLeast Concern

Lifespan

2 years^[4]

Length

17–19 cm

Weight

16–22 g

Wingspan

32–34 cm

Migration

Long-distance Migrant

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.

Also known as: European Swallow, Common Swallow

Share

Think you've spotted a Barn Swallow?

Upload a photo and we'll confirm it instantly

Confirm with a Photo

Gallery

Juvenile Barn Swallow

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.

Identification & Characteristics

Male Colors

Primary: Blue
Secondary: White
Beak: Black
Legs: Black

Female Colors

Primary: Blue
Secondary: White
Beak: Black
Legs: Black

Female Markings

Shorter tail streamers and paler underparts compared to males

Attributes

Agility95/100

Strength30/100

Adaptability85/100

Aggression40/100

Endurance90/100

Understanding Attributes

Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Habitat & 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.

Distribution

Loading map...

Where to See This Bird

Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.

Lancashire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Kent

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Cambridgeshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Suffolk

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Essex

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Bedfordshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Berkshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Devon

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Gloucestershire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Dorset

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Durham

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Herefordshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Isle of Wight

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Nottinghamshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

North Yorkshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Tyne and Wear

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

West Midlands

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Shropshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Staffordshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Wiltshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

West Yorkshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

West Sussex

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Cornwall

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Norfolk

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

United States

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

East Riding of Yorkshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Northamptonshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

South Yorkshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Northumberland

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Leicestershire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Oxfordshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Lincolnshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Merseyside

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

East Sussex

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Worcestershire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Hampshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

London

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Somerset

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Cheshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Rutland

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Hertfordshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Cumbria

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Surrey

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Manchester

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Derbyshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Northern Ireland

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Warwickshire

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Montana

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Buckinghamshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Stockton-on-Tees

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Nebraska

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

England

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Georgia

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Idaho

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Illinois

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Iowa

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Scotland

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Wales

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Nevada

ResidentJan, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Indiana

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Kansas

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

United Kingdom

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Kentucky

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Louisiana

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Massachusetts

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Maryland

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Maine

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

New Jersey

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Michigan

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Bristol

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Missouri

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Minnesota

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Alabama

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Arizona

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Arkansas

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Mississippi

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

North Dakota

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

California

ResidentJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec

North Carolina

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

New Hampshire

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

New Mexico

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

District of Columbia

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Colorado

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Connecticut

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Florida

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Delaware

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Ohio

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Oklahoma

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

New York

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Oregon

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Pennsylvania

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Utah

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

South Dakota

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Rhode Island

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

South Carolina

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Tennessee

BreedingMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Texas

ResidentFeb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Virginia

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Vermont

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Washington

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Wisconsin

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

West Virginia

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Wyoming

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Canada

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Alberta

BreedingMay, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

British Columbia

BreedingFeb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Manitoba

BreedingMay, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Nova Scotia

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

New Brunswick

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Northwest Territories

BreedingMay, Jun, Jul, Aug

Ontario

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Saskatchewan

BreedingMay, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Prince Edward Island

BreedingMay, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Quebec

BreedingApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Yukon Territory

BreedingMay, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Get a personalised bird guide for your area

Diet

Barn Swallows are insectivores, primarily feeding on flying insects such as flies, moths, and beetles. They catch their prey in mid-air, often flying low over fields or water bodies. They'll also eat flying ants, moths, and beetles.

During the breeding season, they may consume up to 60 insects per hour to sustain their high energy needs.

Behaviour

Barn Swallows are highly social birds, often seen in large flocks during migration and winter. They are agile flyers, catching insects on the wing with swift, graceful movements.

These birds frequently perch on wires or branches, chattering amongst themselves and preening.

Calls & Sounds

Barn Swallows are known for their cheerful, twittering song, often described as a series of liquid chirps and warbles. Their call is a sharp 'vit' or 'vit-vit'. During the breeding season, males sing more elaborately, producing a pleasant, bubbling warble that sounds like 'weet-weet-wittit-wittit-wittit'.

They also produce alarm calls when they detect a threat and when attempting to deter predators from the nest.

Nesting & Breeding

Barn Swallows typically form monogamous pairs, with breeding occurring from spring to early summer. Courtship involves aerial displays and melodious duets.

Nests are cup-shaped structures made of mud pellets mixed with grass, lined with feathers. They are often attached to rafters in barns or under bridges. Females lay 4-5 white eggs with reddish-brown spots.

Incubation lasts about 14-19 days, with both parents sharing duties. Nestlings fledge after 18-23 days but remain dependent on their parents for up to a week after leaving the nest.

Conservation

While globally listed as Least Concern, Barn Swallow populations have declined in some regions due to agricultural intensification and loss of nesting sites.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable nesting habitats and reducing pesticide use in foraging areas.

LCLeast Concern

^[1]

Population

Estimated: 290,000,000 - 487,000,000 mature individuals^[3]

Trend: Decreasing^[2]

Elevation

Sea level to 3,000 meters

Additional Details

Predators:: Main predators include domestic cats, hawks, falcons, and occasionally snakes and rats, especially for nestlings and eggs.

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Barn Swallows near open fields, farmlands, and water bodies.
Observe their distinctive forked tails during flight.
Listen for their cheerful, twittering calls, especially near nesting sites.
In the UK and North America, check barns and outbuildings for nesting pairs in spring and summer.

Did You Know?

Barn Swallows can drink and bathe on the wing, skimming the water's surface.
They often return to the same nesting site year after year, travelling up to 11,000 km during migration.
In many cultures, Barn Swallows symbolise good luck and heralds of spring.

Community Photos

Be the first to share a photo of the Barn Swallow

Similar Species

House Martin

House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Common Swift

Common Swift

Apus apus

Sand Martin

Sand Martin

Riparia riparia

Related Articles

What Do Swallows Eat?

What Do Swallows Eat?

21 Oct 2021

Barn Swallow Nesting (All You Need To Know)

Barn Swallow Nesting (All You Need To Know)

3 May 2022

Barn Swallow Migration: Routes, Timing & Distances Explained

Barn Swallow Migration: Routes, Timing & Distances Explained

Discover everything about barn swallow migration — when they leave, where they go, how far they fly, and the routes these birds take between North and South America each year.

11 May 2022

Swift or Swallow: How To Tell The Difference?

Swift or Swallow: How To Tell The Difference?

7 Jun 2022

Spring Migration in the UK: A Continental Journey Home

Spring Migration in the UK: A Continental Journey Home

From swallows to cuckoos, discover the incredible journeys of Britain's spring migrants and when to spot them returning to our shores

4 Mar 2026

Identify Any Bird Instantly

Upload a photo from your phone or camera
Get an instant AI identification
Ask follow-up questions about the bird

Monthly Birds in Your Area

Personalised for your location
Seasonal tips and garden advice
Updated every month with new species

Get Your Free Digest

Was this helpful?