n.

A widely distributed bird (Hirundo rustica) that nests in barns and caves and has a deeply forked tail, a dark-blue back, and tan underparts.

Hirundo rustica

SUBFAMILY

Hirundinae

TAXONOMY

Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758. Six subspecies are recognized.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Chimney swallow, European swallow, house swallow, swallow; French: Hirondelle de cheminée; German: Rauchschwalbe; Spanish: Golondrina Bermeja.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

7.5 in (19 cm); 0.6 oz (17 g). The back is glossy blue-black, the throat and belly rusty brown, and there is a brighter rusty-red patch on the forehead. The tail is deeply forked. The six geographic subspecies vary somewhat in coloration.

DISTRIBUTION

The most widespread species of swallow. It breeds in northern regions of Eurasia, North America, and northern North Africa. It migrates to winter in more southern regions of its range, including northern and central South America, central and southern Africa, and South and Southeast Asia.

HABITAT

Forages in open areas, often close to water. Nests primarily on built structures, as well as natural cliffs and caves.

BEHAVIOR

Begins to migrates south at the end of August, but particularly in the first half of September. Before they depart and while resting during migration, they may aggregate into large flocks, often with other species of swallows. Late migrants may persist until late October or early November. Has a loud, twittering song and is perhaps the most talented singer in the family. Its contact call, used to attract and connect with others, is a high-pitched, loud, repeated weet.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Feeds on insects caught in flight.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Monogamous. Builds a cup-shaped nest of mud and some plant fibers, often attached to a building beneath a shading overhang, and sometimes inside if there is easy access. Its natural nest sites are cliffs, cave walls, and clefts in the ground. It usually takes about eight days to build a new nest, but in unfavorable weather this may be as long as four weeks. The nest is lined mostly with feathers. A nest may be used for a decade or longer, being refurbished each year. The clutch is typically three to six eggs. However, clutches laid later in the season have fewer eggs. Generally only the female incubates, although the male may also participate, especially in the American subspecies. The young hatch asynchronously after 11–18 days of incubation and are fledged after 15–23 days. Generally breeds once or twice per season, rarely three times.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened. A widespread and abundant species.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

The barn swallow is a popular bird for many people. In parts of Europe it is considered an omen of good luck and a harbinger of spring. It has lived for millennia in close association with humans, and has likely benefited from this relationship and become more abundant than in former times. This bird is welcomed by farmers because it eats many insect pests that affect livestock and crops.

Hirundo rustica 6-7¾″ (15-19 cm). Our only swallow that is truly swallow-tailed; also the only one with white tail spots. Blue-black above; cinnamon-buff below, with a darker throat. Juvenile is whitish below. Flight direct, close to the ground; wing tips pulled back at the end of the stroke; not much gliding.

Similar species: Most other N. American swallows have notched (not deeply forked) tails. (1) Cliff Swallow is colonial, building mud jugs under eaves or cliffs. (2) See Cave Swallow.

Voice: A soft vit or kvik-kvik, vit-vit. Also szee-szah or szee. Anxiety note, a harsh, irritated ee-tee or keet. Song, a long musical twitter interspersed with gutturals.

Range: Widespread in N. Hemisphere. Winters Costa Rica to Argentina, Africa, s. Asia.

Habitat: Open or semi-open land; farms, fields, marshes, lakes; often perches on wires; usually near habitation. Builds its cuplike nest inside barns, not in tight colonies under eaves, like Cliff Swallow.

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: common swallow of North America and Europe that nests in barns etc.
  Synonyms: chimney swallow, Hirundo rustica

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