Barn Swallow

Photo of a barn swallow in flight.
Scientific Name
Hirundo rustica
Family
Hirundinidae (swallows) in the order Passeriformes
Description

Barn swallow adult upperparts are dark iridescent blue black, and the tail is long and forked, with white spots visible when the tail is spread during flight. Underparts are buff or cinnamon with a dark chestnut throat. The lighter belly is separated from the throat by a narrow blue-black band. The song is a long, twittering chatter with guttural sounds interspersed. Call notes are sharp kit-kit or svit-svit sounds.

Size

Length: 6¾ inches (tip of bill to tip of tail).

Where To Find
image Barn Swallow Distribution Map

Statewide.

Usually seen foraging for flying insects in open areas near farm buildings, bridges, culverts, or other open-structure buildings, and over water. They are sometimes seen with other swallow species in mixed flocks. Their cup-shaped mud nests are attached to a rough wooded beam or concrete structure. Barn swallows almost always build their nests on human-built structures, though originally they built them in caves and under overhanging cliffs.

Swallows are amazingly agile fliers and catch flying insects on the wing. They eat mostly flies, along with flying beetles, wasps, butterflies, and other relatively large insects. Their peak presence in our state from April through September coincides with the time when insects are abundant and available for them to eat and to feed to their young.

Common summer resident nearly throughout North America. They are distributed worldwide. In the Old World, barn swallows migrate seasonally between Eurasia and Africa.

Swallows arrive in Missouri in March and April and begin building nests. Like cliff swallows, barn swallows build cup-shaped nests from mud they collect from muddy pools or stream banks, adhering it to the side of a rough wall under a sheltering overhang, lining the nests with plant materials and feathers. Barn swallows usually have two broods. In July and August, swallows gather in ever-larger flocks; by the end of October, they have left for Central and South America.

People not fond of insects can appreciate their insectivorous diet. They are sometimes attracted to ground-up eggshells or other shell-based grit provided on an open platform. Some people attract them with special nest boxes or by providing a welcoming barn with an open window or door.

Swallows help control populations of the many flying insects they eat. Imagine the impact they have in a wetland area in August, when a hundred thousand or more individuals of all six species have joined into one large group!

Media Gallery
Photo of a barn swallow in flight.
Swallows are amazingly agile fliers and catch flying insects on the wing.
Noppadol Paothong
1/10
Photo of an adult barn swallow perched on barbed wire.
Barn swallows are streamlined, agile fliers with forked tails. They build cup-shaped nests out of mud.
Jim Rathert
2/10
Photo of an adult barn swallow.
Adult upperparts of barn swallows are dark iridescent blue black, and the tail is long and forked.
Noppadol Paothong
3/10
Photo of an adult barn swallow calling.
The call notes of barn swallows are sharp kit-kit or svit-svit sounds.
Noppadol Paothong
4/10
Photo of a juvenile barn swallow, perched.
Juvenile barn swallows can be identified by their shorter tail feathers and by a generally paler coloration of the breast.
Jim Rathert
5/10
Photo of two juvenile barn swallows, perched.
In five months, young barn swallows progress from egg to juveniles strong enough to fly to Central or South America.
Jim Rathert, Noppadol Paothong
6/10
Photo of a barn swallow standing on ground holding dried grass in its bill.
Barn swallows build cup-shaped nests out of mud mixed with dried grasses.
Jim Rathert
7/10
Photo of two young barn swallows looking out of their nest.
Barn swallows almost always build their nests on human-built structures. They are a familiar sight on farms.
Jim Rathert
8/10
Photo of a barn swallow visiting its young in the nest.
Barn swallows affix their nests to a slight ledge or rough surface in sheltered places on a wall or concrete bridge.
Jim Rathert
9/10
Photo of a barn swallow visiting its begging young in the nest.
Swallows help control populations of the many flying insects they eat.
Jim Rathert
10/10
Photo of a barn swallow in flight.
Photo of an adult barn swallow perched on barbed wire.
Photo of an adult barn swallow.
Photo of an adult barn swallow calling.
Photo of a juvenile barn swallow, perched.
Photo of two juvenile barn swallows, perched.
Photo of a barn swallow standing on ground holding dried grass in its bill.
Photo of two young barn swallows looking out of their nest.
Photo of a barn swallow visiting its young in the nest.
Photo of a barn swallow visiting its begging young in the nest.
Similar Species

Where to See Species

About Birds in Missouri

About 350 species of birds are likely to be seen in Missouri, though nearly 400 have been recorded within our borders. Most people know a bird when they see one — it has feathers, wings, and a bill. Birds are warm-blooded, and most species can fly. Many migrate hundreds or thousands of miles. Birds lay hard-shelled eggs (often in a nest), and the parents care for the young. Many communicate with songs and calls.

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