Barn Swallow Photos and Videos for, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2024)

Adult (American)

The most widespread and abundant swallow in the world, recognizable by its long, deeply forked tail and dark blue upperparts. Different subspecies groups vary in size, throat and underpart color, and length of tail streamers.

Adult (American)

Adult "American" Barn Swallows have a rusty forehead and throat, an incomplete breast band, and cinnamon underparts.

Adult

Upperparts are usually steely blue, but color changes with angle of light. Note long wings. At some times of year, some individuals lack the long tail streamers.

Adult (White-bellied)

Adult "White-bellied" Barn Swallows breeding in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia have a whitish belly and a thick blue band across the chest.

Adult (White-bellied)

Males and females are similar in appearance, but males have longer outer tail feathers than females

Adults (American)

Both males and females help build the nest, using pellets of mud combined with dry grasses.

Adult (Buff-bellied)

Adult "Buff-bellied" Barn Swallows breeding in East Asia are similar to "American" Barn Swallows in appearance, but have a larger rusty throat patch.

Adult (Tytler's)

Adult "Tytler's" Barn Swallows breeding in Siberia and northern Mongolia have reddish-orange underparts and a narrow, sometimes-broken breast band.

Adults (American)

Often forages in flocks, fairly low to the ground. Flight is very light and agile, with quick turns and little gliding.

Adult (Levant)

Adult "Levant" Barn Swallows breeding in western Asia have rich orange underparts and a thick blue breast band.

Adult (Egyptian)

Adult "Egyptian" Barn Swallows have dark reddish-orange underparts and a thick dark blue breast band.

Juveniles

Nests are made of mud and grass and usually placed under eaves, barn rafter, bridges, and culverts.

Adult (American)

Slender-bodied with a long, deeply forked tail. From below, the underparts vary from pale cinnamon or tawny to bright cinnamon.

Adult (American)

Flies with fluid wingbeats making quick turns and dives; rarely glides. Tail is long and deeply forked with a white band across it.

Adult (White-bellied)

In flight, note "White-bellied" Barn Swallows' white underparts and white underwing coverts.

Juvenile (American)

Juvenile "American" Barn Swallows are dark above and pale cinnamon below with a rich rusty throat and forehead. Their tail is also shorter without the deep fork.

Immature (Levant)

Immatures are duller than adults and have shorter tails.

Juvenile (White-bellied)

Juvenile "White-bellied" Barn Swallows have a white belly and tawny throat. The tail is also shorter without the deep fork.

Juvenile (American)

Preferred nest sites include eaves, rafters, and cross beams of barns, sheds and stables, as well as the undersides of bridges, wharfs, and culverts.

Adult (American)

Long and slender with a deeply forked tail. In "American" Barn Swallows, the color of the underparts varies from buffy to rich cinnamon with the females typically having paler underparts.

Adult (American)

Collects mud in bill to build a mud and grass nest—often tucked under the eaves of barns and stables, on structures near playing fields, or under bridges.

Flock (American)

Often seen in flocks in open habitats from fields, parks, and roadway edges to marshes, meadows, ponds, and coastal waters.

Compare with Similar Species

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Species in This Family

Swallows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Hirundinidae)

Bank Swallow

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Purple Martin

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Cave Swallow

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Barn Swallow Photos and Videos for, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2024)

Adult (American)

Adult (American)

Adult

Adult (White-bellied)

Adult (White-bellied)

Adults (American)

Adult (Buff-bellied)

Adult (Tytler's)

Adults (American)

Adult (Levant)

Adult (Egyptian)

Juveniles

Adult (American)

Adult (American)

Adult (White-bellied)

Juvenile (American)

Immature (Levant)

Juvenile (White-bellied)

Juvenile (American)

Adult (American)

Adult (American)

Flock (American)

Compare with Similar Species

Looking for ID Help?

Species in This Family

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