May 2, 2022
Defining Characteristics
- medium-sized songbird (approximately 15-18 cm long)
Males:
- Glossy blue-black plumage on their back and upper wings, rusty red forehead and throat
- Short bill and a broad blue breast band above its tawny underbelly
- Long tail feathers which form a deep fork and a line of white spots across the outer end of the upper tail
Females:
- Tail feathers are shorter, the blue of her upper parts and breast band are less glossy, and her underside is paler.
Habitat:
Barn Swallows frequently dwell in close proximity to humans. They almost exclusively make their cup-shaped mud nests on human-made structures such as open barns, under bridges, and in culverts. Barn swallows favour open structures such as ledges where they can build their nests. They will often re-use the the same nest for multiple years. Because mud does not attach as well to polished surfaces, they tend to choose unpainted, rough-cut wood.
Population decline:
Barn Swallow populations in Ontario have declined at more than 2.5% annually, resulting in a cumulative loss of 66% since 1970. They are now considered a threatened species.
Barn Swallow Facts:
- Each fall, Barn Swallows make the long flight to Central and South America. They return to Ontario and other southern parts of Canada each spring.
Barn Swallows and EBC:
Barn swallows have a home on 13 of our nature reserves. Help us protect more Ontario land to provide more homes for this threatened species. Donate by clicking here!
