{"id":12059,"date":"2022-10-08T07:45:24","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T12:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?page_id=12059"},"modified":"2022-10-22T05:23:10","modified_gmt":"2022-10-22T10:23:10","slug":"barn-swallow","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/barn-swallow\/","title":{"rendered":"Barn Swallow: Key Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that barn swallows are found all over the world at different times of the year? Or that they don\u2019t stop flying when it\u2019s time for food and water<\/a>? Keep reading! In this article, we\u2019ll explore these and other barn swallow key facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Facts About Barn Swallows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scientific Name:<\/strong><\/td>Hirundo rustica<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Type of Animal:<\/strong><\/td>Passerine bird: swallow<\/td><\/tr>
Number of Subspecies:<\/strong><\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Physical Description:<\/strong><\/td>Sparrow-sized passerine birds, blue on their upper parts and brown and white on the underside. They have large, pointed wings and scissor-like tails distinctive to the swallow family. Eggs are white with brown speckles and about 0.6 to 0.8 inches long.  <\/td><\/tr>
Distribution:<\/strong><\/td>Widely distributed worldwide; found on every continent except Antarctica.<\/td><\/tr>
Habitat:<\/strong><\/td>Can live in a variety of open habitats from sea level to 10,000 feet. Common habitats include grasslands, coastal areas, agricultural fields, suburban areas, and near ponds and streams.<\/td><\/tr>
Size:<\/strong><\/td>6 to 7.5 inches long; 0.6 to 0.7 ounces in weight.<\/td><\/tr>
Diet:<\/strong><\/td>Primarily insectivorous; foods include:
– Flies
– Wasps
– Mosquitoes
– Moths
– Beetles
– Grasshoppers
– Seeds and fruits<\/td><\/tr>
Lifespan:<\/strong><\/td>4 years on average<\/td><\/tr>
Migratory?<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are Barn Swallows?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Barn swallows are the most widely-distributed passerine birds in the world; due to their migration habits<\/a>, they can be found spread out over every continent except Antarctica for at least a part of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barn swallows breed in the northern hemisphere during the spring and summer. As the weather begins to cool down, they begin flying south and spend the austral summer near the equator and in the southern hemisphere.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their diet drives this migration. Barn swallows are insectivores, and food is scarce during the fall and winter; therefore, they follow the food to warmer climates in the south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it is time to raise young again, they return to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barn swallows are about the size of sparrows and have beautiful blue and brown coloring. Their long, pointed wings are excellent for flying long distances, and their forked tails allow them to maneuver effortlessly in the air.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about barn swallows, check out this video:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=b4Qw2Ib3l94<\/a>