All species
summer visitor
Amber-listedSwallows and martins
Barn Swallow
A herald of spring, the swallow's forked tail and acrobatic flight make it unmistakable. They build mud nests under eaves and barn beams.
Hirundo rustica
Farmland Open country Villages
Size
17-19 cm
Wingspan
32-35 cm
Weight
16-25 g
Lifespan
3-4 years
Diet
Flying insects — flies, aphids and small beetles — caught on the wing.
Song & Call
A cheerful, twittering song full of liquid trills.
Tap play to listen0:00
Speed
Visualizer
Recording by Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
How to identify
- Long forked tail with streamers
- Blue-black upperparts
- Red throat
Conservation
Amber-listed
Declining due to fewer insects; preserve rough grazing and reduce pesticide use.
