Barn Swallow

Also known as Hirundo rustica, swallow

species of bird

AI overview

The Barn Swallow is a small migratory bird found across the Northern Hemisphere that is known for its streamlined body, forked tail, and swift, graceful flight. It matters because it plays an important ecological role by feeding on flying insects and serves as an indicator of environmental health, while also holding cultural significance in many regions where it nests near human settlements.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

Least Concern

barn swallow

Species

PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyHirundinidae

via IUCN

Wikidata facts

Image: Hirundo-rustica-001.jpg

Show 8 more facts

taxon name: Hirundo rustica
Commons category: Hirundo rustica
Commons gallery: Hirundo rustica
wingspan: 0.32
litter size: 5
egg incubation period: 13.5
taxon common name: қыстау қарлығашы
short name: H. rustica

Sources (10)

via Wikidata · CC0

~32 min read

Article

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world, occurring on all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. In Anglophone Europe, it is just called the swallow; in northern Europe, it is the only member of family Hirundinidae called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

There are eight subspecies of barn swallow, which breed across the Northern Hemisphere. Two subspecies (H. r. savignii and H. r. transitiva) have fairly restricted ranges in the Nile valley and eastern Mediterranean, respectively. The other six are more widespread, with winter ranges covering much of the Southern Hemisphere.