Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Aves · Passeriformes · Hirundinidae

About

The barn swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world, occurring on all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. In Anglophone Europe, it is just called the swallow; in northern Europe, it is the only member of family Hirundinidae called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

Fun Fact

Barn swallows have the widest natural distribution of any passerine bird, breeding across the entire Northern Hemisphere and wintering in the Southern Hemisphere — a round trip that can exceed 20,000 km.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Open country and farms

Diet

Insectivore

Lifespan

4-8 years

Threats

Habitat Loss
Disease

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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