Barn Swallow Birds
Barn swallows often cruise low flying just a few inches above the ground or water.
Barn swallow birds. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time on the wing. The term swallow is used colloquially in europe as a synonym for the barn swallow around 90 species of hirundinidae are known divided into 19 genera with. The species is found around the world as are the short eared owl golden eagle dunlin and a handful of other bird species. They are widespread breeding birds in the northern hemisphere migrating south in winter.
The barn swallow seems to benefit from life around people as long as its prey remains abundant. Look for the long deeply forked tail that streams out behind this agile flyer and sets it apart from all other north american swallows. In northern europe it is the only common species called a swallow rather than a martin. Barn swallows often cruise low flying just a few inches above the ground or water.
The barn swallow hirundo rustica is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. The weather used to be predicted by their flight. One of our most familiar birds in rural areas and semi open country this swallow is often seen skimming low over fields with a flowing graceful flight. The barn swallow with its distinctive long forked tail makes it one of the easier north american swallows to identify.
Glistening cobalt blue above and tawny below barn swallows dart gracefully over fields barnyards and open water in search of flying insect prey. When flying the feathers are swept back and form a single long point behind the bird. Famous for their acrobatic flight and deep forked tail these little birds have inspired mythological stories inspired poets and even been mentioned in the bible. Barn swallows are considered as heralds of spring and rejuvenation of life.
Indeed it is now rare to find a barn swallow nest in a site that is not manmade. At least six barn swallow subspecies are recognized with just one in the americas. Erythrogaster breeds in north america. Look for the long deeply forked tail that streams out behind this agile flyer and sets it apart from all other north american swallows.
The swallows martins and saw wings or hirundinidae are a family of passerine birds found around the world on all continents including occasionally in antarctica. Glistening cobalt blue above and tawny below barn swallows dart gracefully over fields barnyards and open water in search of flying insect prey. In anglophone europe it is just called the swallow. Swallows are small birds with dark glossy blue backs red throats pale underparts and long tail streamers.
It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long deeply forked tail it is found in europe asia africa and the americas. Barn swallow habits nesting feeding migration.