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Swallows are small birds with long, pointed wings. They are fast, masterful flyers which catch all their insect food on the wing. Their legs and feet are small, unsuitable for walking, and their bills are very small. The outer tail feathers are the longest, producing notched or V-shaped tails. Swallows are usually seen perched on wires or flying over water, often in large flocks. They are colonial nesters.
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Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
At-a-Glance
• Peak Breeding Activity: May-August
• Incubation: 13-15 days
• Clutch Size: 4-6 eggs
• Young Fledge: 20 days after hatching
• Typical Foods: insectivorous; crickets, dragonflies, beetles, moths, and other flying insects |
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Description
The barn swallow is a beautifully colored bird - steel-blue on top with a creamy buff breast and rusty throat and forehead. The deeply-forked V-shaped tail is a good field mark.
Habitat and Habits
The barn swallow is considered a common summer resident and prefers to live in the open countryside, especially agricultural areas. It consumes large numbers of insects, especially mosquitos, which makes them very beneficial. The voice is a constant twittering or chattering.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Originally barn swallows nested on rocky ledges over streams and lakes, but most now nest in barns, or under overhangs of sheds and other buildings. The nest is made of mud. The four to six eggs are white, spotted with brown. |
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