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Barn Swallow Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesBarn Swallow

  • Barn Swallow Adult (American)

    Adult (American)

    The most widespread and abundant swallow in the world, recognizable by its long, deeply forked tail and dark blue upperparts. Different subspecies groups vary in size, throat and underpart color, and length of tail streamers.

    © Mason Maron / Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 24, 2020
  • Barn Swallow Adult (American)

    Adult (American)

    Adult "American" Barn Swallows have a rusty forehead and throat, an incomplete breast band, and cinnamon underparts.

    © Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, June 03, 2020

  • Adult

    Upperparts are usually steely blue, but color changes with angle of light. Note long wings. At some times of year, some individuals lack the long tail streamers.

    © Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, December 01, 2005
    Not all videos have sound
  • Barn Swallow Adult (White-bellied)

    Adult (White-bellied)

    Adult "White-bellied" Barn Swallows breeding in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia have a whitish belly and a thick blue band across the chest.

    © Erkki Lehtovirta / Macaulay LibrarySouthwest Finland, June 19, 2019
  • Barn Swallow Adult (White-bellied)

    Adult (White-bellied)

    Males and females are similar in appearance, but males have longer outer tail feathers than females

    © Pavel Štěpánek / Macaulay LibraryZlínský kraj, May 12, 2018

  • Adults (American)

    Both males and females help build the nest, using pellets of mud combined with dry grasses.

    © Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexas
    Not all videos have sound
  • Barn Swallow Adult (Buff-bellied)

    Adult (Buff-bellied)

    Adult "Buff-bellied" Barn Swallows breeding in East Asia are similar to "American" Barn Swallows in appearance, but have a larger rusty throat patch.

    © Itamar Donitza / Macaulay LibraryMae Hong Son, March 25, 2015
  • Barn Swallow Adult (Tytler's)

    Adult (Tytler's)

    Adult "Tytler's" Barn Swallows breeding in Siberia and northern Mongolia have reddish-orange underparts and a narrow, sometimes-broken breast band.

    © Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBuryatia, June 18, 2017

  • Adults (American)

    Often forages in flocks, fairly low to the ground. Flight is very light and agile, with quick turns and little gliding.

    © Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 27, 1997
    Not all videos have sound
  • Barn Swallow Adult (Levant)

    Adult (Levant)

    Adult "Levant" Barn Swallows breeding in western Asia have rich orange underparts and a thick blue breast band.

    © Eric Francois Roualet / Macaulay LibraryTel-Aviv, March 24, 2019
  • Barn Swallow Adult (Egyptian)

    Adult (Egyptian)

    Adult "Egyptian" Barn Swallows have dark reddish-orange underparts and a thick dark blue breast band.

    © Fabio Olmos / Macaulay LibraryQina, December 24, 2023

  • Juveniles

    Nests are made of mud and grass and usually placed under eaves, barn rafter, bridges, and culverts.

    © Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 10, 2012
    Not all videos have sound
  • Barn Swallow Adult (American)

    Adult (American)

    Slender-bodied with a long, deeply forked tail. From below, the underparts vary from pale cinnamon or tawny to bright cinnamon.

    © Ad Konings / Macaulay LibraryTexas, August 20, 2020
  • Barn Swallow Adult (American)

    Adult (American)

    Flies with fluid wingbeats making quick turns and dives; rarely glides. Tail is long and deeply forked with a white band across it.

    © Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, May 27, 2020
  • Barn Swallow Adult (White-bellied)

    Adult (White-bellied)

    In flight, note "White-bellied" Barn Swallows' white underparts and white underwing coverts.

    © Huw Roberts / Macaulay LibraryAbu Dhabi, April 21, 2018
  • Barn Swallow Juvenile (American)

    Juvenile (American)

    Juvenile "American" Barn Swallows are dark above and pale cinnamon below with a rich rusty throat and forehead. Their tail is also shorter without the deep fork.

    © Farshad Pourmalek / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 10, 2019
  • Barn Swallow Immature (Levant)

    Immature (Levant)

    Immatures are duller than adults and have shorter tails.

    © yuda siliki / Macaulay LibraryHaifa, July 22, 2019
  • Barn Swallow Juvenile (White-bellied)

    Juvenile (White-bellied)

    Juvenile "White-bellied" Barn Swallows have a white belly and tawny throat. The tail is also shorter without the deep fork.

    © Teresa Cohen / Macaulay LibraryLisboa, April 14, 2017
  • Barn Swallow Juvenile (American)

    Juvenile (American)

    Preferred nest sites include eaves, rafters, and cross beams of barns, sheds and stables, as well as the undersides of bridges, wharfs, and culverts.

    © Laure Wilson Neish / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 15, 2013
  • Barn Swallow Adult (American)

    Adult (American)

    Long and slender with a deeply forked tail. In "American" Barn Swallows, the color of the underparts varies from buffy to rich cinnamon with the females typically having paler underparts.

    © Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, June 03, 2020
  • Barn Swallow Adult (American)

    Adult (American)

    Collects mud in bill to build a mud and grass nest—often tucked under the eaves of barns and stables, on structures near playing fields, or under bridges.

    © Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 23, 2017
  • Barn Swallow Flock (American)

    Flock (American)

    Often seen in flocks in open habitats from fields, parks, and roadway edges to marshes, meadows, ponds, and coastal waters.

    © George Gerdts / Macaulay LibraryWashington, August 12, 2017
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    Species in This Family

    Swallows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Hirundinidae)

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