Species BirdsBarn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

CommonBird
Illustration of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

The Barn Swallow is the most widespread swallow in the world and a beloved sign of summer across North America, where it nests almost exclusively in man-made structures such as barns, bridges, and culverts. Its deeply forked tail and rust-orange underparts make it one of the most elegant of swallows. Males with longer, more symmetrical tail streamers attract more mates.

Habitat
Open country near farms, fields, water, and human structures
Diet
Flying insects, especially flies and beetles
How common
Common

Recent Barn Swallow sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Barn Swallow? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck — free

More birds

Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
American Avocet
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
American Bittern
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
American Black Duck
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
American Coot
American Coot
Fulica americana
American Crow
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Flamingo
American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
American Golden-Plover
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica