Hirundo rustica

The familiar Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a common breeding bird across North America, Europe, and Asia and winters in South America and southern Africa (it is possible that the variation across this enormous distribution may actually represent more than one species). In the New World, Barn Swallows breed from Canada to Mexico. They are also now established as breeders in northeastern Argentina, where a small number of breeding pairs were first documented in 1980 and the species has since been well established (Billerman et al. 2011). They winter from Mexico and Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles south throughout South America to Tierra del Fuego. In Eurasia, the breeding range extends from Iceland, the British Isles, the Faeroe Islands, Scandinavia, northern Russia, and northern Siberia south to the Mediterranean region, northern Africa, the Near East, Arabia, Iran, the Himalayas, China, Taiwan, and Japan; these Old World populations winter south to tropical Africa, the East Indies, northern Australia, and Micronesia. Winter range can be difficult to delineate due to late fall records (as late as December) and early spring migrants.

Barn Swallows live in open or semi-open country (farms, fields, marshes, lakes), often near water, and capture and eat most of their food (mainly flying insects) in the air.

Courtship involves aerial chases. On a perch, the members of a mated pair sit close together, touch bills, and engage in mutual preening. Several Barn Swallow pairs may nest in the same immediate area, but Barn Swallows do not form dense colonies as some swallows do. Originally, Barn Swallows nested in crevices in cliffs or shallow caves, but today most nest sites are in open buildings, under eaves, under bridges or docks, or in similar situations. The nest, which is built by both sexes, is a cup of mud and dried grass lined with feathers. The 4 to 5 (sometimes 6, rarely 7) eggs are white, spotted with brown. Eggs are incubated by both sexes (but especially by the female) for 13 to 17 days. Both parents feed the young. One or two additional birds, the pair's offspring from previous broods, may attend the nest and sometimes feed the nestlings. Young leave the nest around 18 to 23 days after hatching.

Barn Swallows migrate in flocks, mainly by day.

(Kaufman 1996; AOU 1998; Dunn and Alderfer 2011)

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) BREEDING: south-coastal and southeastern Alaska, across much of Canada south through much of U.S. to central Mexico; also eastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina, in early 1980s (Ridgely and Tudor 1989); across Eurasia to Mediterranean region, northern Africa, China, Japan. NON-BREEDING: mainly South America, regularly from Costa Rica and West Indies to Tierra del Fuego (but in low numbers south of central Chile and northern Argentina, Ridgely and Tudor 1989); Africa and southern Asia; uncommon in Puerto Rico. Accidental in Hawaii.

Barn swallows are native in all the biogeographic regions except Australia and Antarctica. The breeding range of barn swallows includes North America, northern Europe, northcentral Asia, northern Africa, the Middle East, southern China, and Japan. They winter in South America, South Asia, Indonesia, and Micronesia.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); neotropical (Native )

Other Geographic Terms: holarctic

Barn swallows are native in all the biogeographic regions except Australia and Antarctica. The breeding range of barn swallows includes North America, northern Europe, northcentral Asia, northern Africa, the Middle East, southern China, and Japan. They winter in South America, South Asia, Indonesia, and Micronesia.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); neotropical (Native )

Other Geographic Terms: holarctic

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

Barn swallows are small birds. They are 14.6 to 19.9 cm long and have a wingspan of 31.8 to 34.3 cm. They weigh between 17 and 20 g. Barn swallows are metallic blue-black above and pale beige below. They have light brown on their throat and forehead, and have a long, deeply-forked tail. Males and females look very similar. However, females tend to be less brightly colored and have shorter tails.

Range mass: 17 to 20 g.

Range length: 14.6 to 19.9 cm.

Range wingspan: 31.8 to 34.3 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger; male more colorful

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.3158 W.

Barn swallows are small birds. They range in size from 14.6 to 19.9 cm long, with a wingspan of 31.8 to 34.3 cm. They weigh between 17 and 20 g. Barn swallows are metallic blue-black above and pale beige below. They have light brown on their throat and forehead, and have a long, deeply-forked tail. Males and females are similar in appearance, though females tend to be less vibrantly colored and have shorter outer tail-streamers.

Asymmetry of physical characteristics in barn swallows tends to be transmitted to the young in distinct parent to offspring patterns. Tail asymmetry tends to pass from father to son and from mother to daughter. Alternatively, wing asymmetry does not appear to transfer at all on a reliable basis from parent to offspring.

Six subspecies of Hirundo rustica are recognized.

Range mass: 17 to 20 g.

Range length: 14.6 to 19.9 cm.

Range wingspan: 31.8 to 34.3 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger; male more colorful

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.3158 W.

Length: 17 cm

Weight: 19 grams

Barn swallows are very adaptable birds. They can nest anywhere where there are open areas for foraging, a water source, and a sheltered ledge for their nest. They seek out open habitats of all types, including farms, and are commonly found in barns or other outbuildings. They also build nests under bridges, the eaves of old houses, and boat docks, as well as in rock caves and even on slow-moving trains.

While migrating, barn swallows tend to fly over open habitats, often near water or along mountain ridges. Barn swallows generally nest below 3000 m elevation.

Range elevation: 3000 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural ; riparian ; caves

Systems

• Terrestrial
• Freshwater

Barn swallows are very adaptable birds and can nest anywhere with open areas for foraging, a water source, and a sheltered ledge. They seek out open habitats of all types, including agricultural areas, and are commonly found in barns or other outbuildings. They will also build nests under bridges, the eaves of old houses, and boat docks, as well as in rock caves and even on slow-moving trains.

While migrating, they tend to fly over open areas, often near water or along mountain ridges. Barn swallows generally nest below 3000 m elevation.

Range elevation: 3000 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural ; riparian ; caves

Depth range based on 147 specimens in 3 taxa.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 82 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 0
  Temperature range (°C): 8.272 - 13.570
  Nitrate (umol/L): 1.249 - 8.636
  Salinity (PPS): 6.428 - 35.485
  Oxygen (ml/l): 5.998 - 8.081
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.240 - 0.630
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.455 - 10.453

Graphical representation

Temperature range (°C): 8.272 - 13.570

Nitrate (umol/L): 1.249 - 8.636

Salinity (PPS): 6.428 - 35.485

Oxygen (ml/l): 5.998 - 8.081

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.240 - 0.630

Silicate (umol/l): 1.455 - 10.453
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Comments: Open situations, less frequently in partly open habitats, frequently near water (AOU 1983). Wintering concentrations often associated with sugar cane fields (Hilty and Brown 1986, Ridgely and Tudor 1989). Nests in barns or other buildings, under bridges, in caves or cliff crevices, usually on vertical surface close to ceiling. Commonly reuses old nests. Usually returns to same nesting area in successive years; yearlings often return to within 30 km or closer to natal site (Turner and Rose 1989, Shields 1984).

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Arrives in much of U.S. in April, Alaska in May (Terres 1980). Common migrant in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Migrates through Costa Rica mainly early to mid-August through October and early March-late May or early June (Stiles and Skutch 1989). In South America mainly August to May (though some may linger throughout year) (Hilty and Brown 1986, Ridgely and Tudor 1989). See Turner and Rose 1989 for information on Old World migrations.

Barn swallows are insectivores. Diptera, Acrididae, Gryllidae, Anisoptera, Coleoptera, moths and other flying Insecta make up 99 % of their diet. They catch most of their prey while in flight, and are able to feed their young at the nest while flying.

Barn swallows forage opportunistically. They have been observed following tractors and plows, catching the insects that are disturbed by the machinery. They drink water by skimming the surface of a body of water while flying.

Animal Foods: insects

Barn swallows are insectivores. Flies, grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, beetles, moths and other flying insects make up 99 % of their diet. They catch most of their prey while in flight, and are able to feed their young at the nest while flying.

Barn swallows forage opportunistically. They have been observed following tractors and plows, catching the insects that are disturbed by the machinery. They drink water by skimming the surface of a body of water while flying.

Animal Foods: insects

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

Comments: Flies over open land and water and forages on insects; forages nearer to the ground than other swallows (usually not greater than 10 meters and often less than 1 meter above the ground) (Brown and Brown 1999). Feeds opportunistically on a wide variety of flying insects; primarily true flies (Diptera), but also beetles, true bugs, leafhoppers, Hymenoptera, dragonflies and damselflies, butterflies and moths, and occasionally grasshoppers and crickets (Beal 1918, Hoskyn 1988). Usually forages within a few hundred meters of nest when breeding. Occasionally may take insects from ground or vegetation; rarely eats berries (Beal 1918).

Barn swallows eat an enormous amount of insects and are very important in the control of their populations. Barn swallows are also a useful food source for many predators.

Molothrus occasionally lay their eggs in barn swallow nests. If the barn swallows incubate the eggs and raise the cowbird chick, they are helping the cowbird population.

Barn swallows sometimes live in a symbiotic relationship with Pandion haliaetus. The barn swallows nest inside or below an osprey nest, which is very big. By nesting near ospreys, the barn swallows are protected from predators, which are driven away by the ospreys. The ospreys benefit because the barn swallows give alarm calls when predators are nearby, alerting the ospreys.

Mutualist Species:

• Pandion haliaetus

Falco sparverius and other hawks, such as Accipiter striatus and Accipiter cooperii, Otus asio, Laricidae, Quiscalus quiscula, Quiscalus major, Rattus norvegicus, Sciuridae, Mustela, Procyon lotor, Lynx rufus, Felis silvestris, Squamata, Rana catesbeiana, Actinopterygii and fire Formicidae are predators of barn swallows. Barn swallows usually give alarm calls when predators come near. Most predators of barn swallows attack the nestlings, but Accipitridae, Falconidae, and Strigiformes tend to hunt adults.

Barn swallows mainly escape predators by being swift and agile in flight and by building their nests in places that are difficult for predators to reach.

Known Predators:

• American kestrels (Falco_sparverius)
• sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter_striatus)
• Cooper's hawks (Accipiter_cooperii)
• eastern screech owls (Otus_asio)
• gulls (Laridae)
• common grackles (Quiscalus_quiscula)
• boat-tailed grackles (Quiscalus_major)
• brown rats (Rattus_norvegicus)
• squirrels (Sciuridae)
• weasels (Mustela)
• raccoons (Procyon_lotor)
• bobcats (Lynx_rufus)
• domestic cats (Felis_silvestris)
• snakes (Serpentes)
• bullfrogs (Rana_catesbeiana)
• fish (Actinopterygii)
• fire ants (Formicidae)

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Animal / parasite / ectoparasite / blood sucker
adult of Oeciacus hirundinis sucks the blood of nestling of Hirundo rustica
Other: minor host/prey

Animal / parasite / ectoparasite
imago of Ornithomya biloba ectoparasitises Hirundo rustica
Other: sole host/prey

Although incidents of cowbirds parasitizing barn swallow nests are rare, they have been documented. A 1994 observation of 67 Barn Swallow nests found two of these nests to contain cowbird eggs, which were laid by the parent cowbird and left in the barn swallow nest in a parasitic fashion for the barn swallows to raise. Each of these nests contained 1 cowbird egg and both eggs were incubated by the barn swallows along with their own eggs. However, only one of the cowbird eggs hatched. The single cowbird hatchling fledged normally, thus demonstrating that barn swallows are capable of acting as cowbird hosts.

Barn swallows frequently engage in a symbiotic relationship with ospreys, coexisting in a single nesting area to the mutual benefit of both species. Barn swallows will nest either below a much larger osprey nest or in a portion of an abandoned osprey nest. By nesting near an osprey population, the barn swallows receive protection from birds of prey, which are driven away from the nests by the much larger ospreys. In return, ospreys are alerted to the presence of these predators by the barn swallows which give alarm calls when predators are nearby.

Barn swallows eat an enormous amount of insects and are very important in the control of their populations. Barn swallows are also a useful food source for many predators.

Mutualist Species:

• Ospreys

American kestrels and other hawks, such as sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper's hawks, eastern screech owls, gulls, common grackles, boat-tailed grackles, rats, squirrels, weasels, raccoons, bobcats, domestic cats, snakes, bullfrogs, fish and fire ants are predators of barn swallows. Barn swallows usually give alarm calls when predators come near. Most predators of barn swallows attack the nestlings, but hawks, falcons, and owls tend to hunt adults.

Barn swallows mainly escape predators by being swift and agile in flight and by building their nests in places that are difficult for predators to reach.

Known Predators:

• American kestrels (Falco sparverius)
• sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus)
• Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii)
• eastern screech owls (Otus asio)
• gulls (Laridae)
• common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula)
• boat-tailed grackles (Quiscalus major)
• brown rats (Rattus norvegicus)
• squirrels (Sciuridae)
• weasels (Mustela)
• raccoons (Procyon lotor)
• bobcats (Lynx rufus)
• domestic cats (Felis silvestris)
• snakes (Serpentes)
• bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus)
• fish (Actinopterygii)
• fire ants (Formicidae)

Hirundo rustica is prey of:
Strigiformes
Falconiformes

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Nonbreeding: may form flocks of up to thousands.

Barn swallows use vocalizations and body language (postures and movements) to communicate. Barn swallows sing, both individually and as a group. They have a wide variety of calls used in different situations, from predator alarm calls, to courtship calls, and calls of young in nests. Nestlings give off a faint chirp while begging for food. Barn swallows also make clicking noises, which they create by snapping their jaws together.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

Other Communication Modes: choruses

Barn swallows use vocalizations and body language (postures and movements) to communicate. Barn swallows sing, both individually and as a group. They have a wide variety of calls used in different situations, from predator alarm calls, to courtship calls, and calls of young in nests. Nestlings give off a faint chirp while begging for food. Barn swallows also make clicking noises, which they create by snapping their jaws together.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

Other Communication Modes: choruses

Not much is known about the lifespan of these birds. The oldest wild barn swallow in North America lived 8 years, but this is considered to be unusual. Most barn swallows probably only live about 4 years.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 8 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 4 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 106 months.

The average lifespan of barn swallows is 4 years. Barn swallows of 8 years of age have been documented, but these are considered the exception. Survival prospects and longevity appear to increase with tail length and wing and tail symmetry.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 8 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 4 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 106 months.

Maximum longevity: 16 years Observations: Barn swallows have been shown to suffer an age-dependent decline in offspring quality, feather development, and body size (Saino et al. 2002).

Barn swallows are socially monogamous (one male mates and raises chicks with one female). However, barn swallows often copulate with other swallows that are not their mate. Therefore, they are probably actually polygamous. Barn swallows form breeding pairs each spring after they arrive on the breeding grounds. They form new pairs each spring, though the same two birds may nest together for several years.

Male barn swallows try to attract females by displaying their tails and singing. Female barn swallows seem to prefer males with long tails that are equal lengths on each side. Long tails and symmetry may be good signals of a male's health and fitness as a mate.

Adults that don't have a mate sometimes join breeding pairs, and help them to build a nest, defend the nest, incubate the eggs and brood the chicks. These "helpers" are usually male. They may mate with the female of the nest.

Mating System: monogamous ; polygynandrous (promiscuous) ; cooperative breeder

Barn swallows usually breed between May and August. They usually raise two broods of chicks each summer. The male and female work together to build a nest. The nest is built of a mud shell, and is lined with grass and feathers. The female lays 3 to 7 eggs (average 5). Both parents incubate the eggs, which hatch in 13 to 15 days. The chicks are naked and helpless when they hatch. Both parents feed and protect the chicks, as well as removing their fecal sacs from the nest to keep it clean. The nestlings stay in the nest for about 20 days. When they are handled by humans they tend to leave the nest at least a day too early. The parents continue to care for the chicks for up to a week after they leave the nest. They feed them and lead them back to the nest at night to sleep. By two weeks after they have fledged from the nest, the chicks have left the area. They often travel quite far, visiting other barn swallow colonies. Young barn swallows are able to breed in spring after they hatch. Young barn swallows generally do not lay as many eggs as older birds.

Breeding interval: Barn Swallows usually produce 2 clutches per season, breeding seasons occur once each year.

Breeding season: Barn Swallows breed from May to August.

Range eggs per season: 3 to 7.

Range time to hatching: 13 to 15 days.

Average fledging age: 20.50 days.

Range time to independence: 2 (high) weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Average eggs per season: 4.

In North America, both barn swallow parents incubate the eggs and feed the nestlings. However, females provide more parental care than males. During the nestling period, barn swallow parents may feed their chicks up to 400 times per day. Barn swallows feed their chicks a compressed pellet of insects that they carry in their throat.

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); post-independence association with parents

Barn swallows are socially monogamous. However, extra-pair copulations are common, making this species genetically polygamous. Breeding pairs form each spring after arrival on the breeding grounds. Pairs re-form each spring, though pairs that have nested together successfully may mate together for several years. Males try to attract females by spreading their tails to display them and singing.

Several studies have researched sexual selection in barn swallows. Moller (1994) documented female barn swallows selecting for symmetrical wings and tails in potential mates. Males exhibiting greater symmetry acquired mates more quickly than did asymmetric males. Asymmetry can result from genetic factors such as inbreeding or mutations as well as from environmental stress such as food deficiency, parasite infestation, or the presence of pathogens. Moller observed that individuals affected by these factors not only exhibited asymmetry, but also decreased strength and longevity. Therefor, females that selected symmetrical mates would presumably be selecting superior mates. In addition to selecting for symmetry, females also tend to select males with longer tail feathers. Moller observed a connection between the tail length of male barn swallows and their offspring’s vitality and longevity. Males with longer tail feathers exhibit traits of greater longevity which is passed on to their offspring. Females thus gain an indirect fitness benefit from this form of selection, as longer tail feathers indicate a genetically stronger individual who will produce offspring with enhanced vitality. Individuals with longer tails have also been observed to demonstrate greater disease resistance than their short-tailed counterparts. There is also evidence that males select female mates with long tails.

Unmated adults often associate with a breeding pair for up to an entire season. Though these "helpers" do not usually feed the young, they may help with nest defense, nest building, incubation and brooding. "Helpers" are predominantly male, and may succeed in mating with the resident female, leading to polygyny.

Mating System: monogamous ; polygynandrous (promiscuous) ; cooperative breeder

Barn swallows usually breed between May and August, but this varies greatly with location. They usually raise two broods of chicks each summer. Both birds of a pair make the nest. They build the shell of mud, and line it with grass and feathers. The female lays 3 to 7 eggs (average 5). Both parents incubate the eggs, which hatch in 13 to 15 days. The chicks are naked and helpless when they hatch. Both parents feed and protect the chicks, as well as removing fecal sacs from the nest. The nestlings remain in the nest for about 20 days before fledging. When barn swallows are handled by humans they tend to attempt to fledge at least a day too early. The parents continue to care for the chicks for up to a week after fledging, feeding them and leading them back to the nest to sleep. By two weeks after fledging, the barn swallow chicks have dispersed and often travel widely to other barn swallow colonies. Young barn swallows are able to breed in the first breeding season after they have hatched. Generally, young barn swallows do not produce as many eggs as do older birds.

Breeding interval: Barn Swallows usually produce 2 clutches per season, breeding seasons occur once each year.

Breeding season: Barn Swallows breed from May to August.

Range eggs per season: 3 to 7.

Range time to hatching: 13 to 15 days.

Average fledging age: 20.50 days.

Range time to independence: 2 (high) weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Average eggs per season: 4.

In North America, both barn swallow parents incubate the eggs and feed the nestlings. However, females provide more parental care than do males. During the nestling period, barn swallow parents may feed their nestlings up to 400 times per day. Barn swallows feed their chicks insects compressed into a pellet, which is transported to the nest in the parent’s throat. Although all swallows are socially monogamous, barn swallows differ from most swallow species in the sharing of parental care. Juveniles from the first brood of the season have even been observed assisting their parents in feeding a second brood.

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); post-independence association with parents

Clutch size is usually 4-5. Incubation lasts 13-17 days (less often 11-19 days), mainly or totally (e.g., in Europe) by female. Often 2 broods, except in far north. Young are tended by both adults, fledge at 18-23 days, stay together and are fed by parents for about a week. Females first breed at 1 year, a few males remain unpaired until 2 years old. Adults often have same mate in successive years (Shields 1984). Juveniles may help feed young of second brood.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 27
Specimens with Barcodes: 49
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 23 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4B - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5B - Secure

In the past, barn swallows have benefited from human changes to natural landscapes. As humans destroyed vast areas of forest to convert to farmland, they created large areas of new habitat for swallows. Now, as farming is becoming more modernized, barn swallows may be becoming less abundant. Barns and hay lofts are now becoming enclosed, resulting in fewer places for barn swallows to build their nests. However, barn swallows continue to be widespread and common throughout their range. There are about 190,000,000 barn swallows in the world.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

History

• 2008
  Least Concern
• 2004
  Least Concern

Barn swallow populations are generally considered to be stable and sufficiently extensive. However, declines in the amount of acreage devoted to agriculture in recent years have resulted in reduced barn swallow numbers. This can be attributed to a reduction in habitat as the barns and outbuildings which once housed barn swallows, give way to more urban settings. Another contributing factor is the reduction in food supply. Insects attracted by the presence of livestock and the ideal surrounding habitat are the primary food source for barn swallows living in agricultural areas. Locations where farming has ceased exhibit a 50% reduction in insect populations.

Barn swallows continue to be widespread and common throughout their range. There are an estimated 190,000,000 individuals worldwide.

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Resident breeder, regular passage visitor, non-breeding summer visitor and winter visitor?

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Global Short Term Trend: Decline of 10-30%

Comments: Range expanded in the southeastern U.S. in the middle part of the 1900s (NGS 1983), and North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data indicated a significant population increase surveywide of 3.8% annually from 1966 through 1979. But in the years following (1980-1999), the same source showed a significant annual surveywide decline of -1.9% (Droege et al. 2000). The decline is most extreme in the north: Canada had a significant decline of -4.1% annually 1980-1999, and other significant declines greater than -4% per year were registered in the following BBS regions: Adirondacks, Northern New England, Northern Spruce Hardwoods, Central Rockies, and Northern Pacific Rainforests. The only region showing any significant increases was the southeast: Mississippi had an annual increase of 2.8% and Georgia showed an increase of 4.1% (Droege et al. 2000).

Comments: See Turner and Rose 1989 for comments on status in Old World. In general, has benefited from presence of humans and their structures. Small numbers inadvertently killed by intentional spraying of Dickcissel (SPIZA AMERICANA) roosts in Venezuela in non-breeding season (Basili and Temple 1999).

Restoration Potential: See Mitchell (1988) for specifications for the construction and placement of nest shelves. See Winkler and McCarty (1990) for information on a method for transplanting nestlings from one site to another.

Biological Research Needs: Need to resolve the systematics of this species and its genus. Studies on sexual selection in North American race would be valuable (Brown and Brown 1999).

Some humans feel that barn swallow nests are a nuisance, and are ugly when they are attached to buildings and other man-made structures. Large colonies in urban areas can also create heath risks for humans. Finally, the disease called salmonella can be transmitted through the feces of barn swallows. This poses a threat to animals that live near barn swallow colonies.

Negative Impacts: causes or carries domestic animal disease

Barn swallows helps farmers get rid of insect pests that would affect them, their livestock, and their crops. They are a welcome insect predator on most farms.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population

Some humans feel that barn swallow nests are a nuisance, and are unsightly when they are attached to buildings and other man-made structures. Large colonies in urban areas can also create detrimental cleanliness and health issues for humans. Finally, salmonella can be transmitted through their feces, posing a threat to livestock that live in close proximity to barn swallow colonies.

Negative Impacts: causes or carries domestic animal disease

Barn swallows are quite effective in reducing insect pest populations. They also can serve as an indicator or trigger organism, indicating possible environmental trouble, as declines in their relatively abundant numbers may precede other more obvious effects of environmental stress.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population