Barn Swallow (us-RGV)
From WikiBird
Contents |
Regional Information
Range, Abundance, and Seasonal Variations
Directions and Maps
General Information
Size
Length: ??cm (??in), Wingspan: ??cm (??in)
Field Marks
It has a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. Tiny bill. Juvenile: similar to adult but paler underneath with a shorter tail.
The nominate European subspecies H. r. rustica has dark blue-black upperparts, off-white underparts and a small patch of red on the throat, with a broad dark blue-black breast band separating the red throat from the off-white underparts.
The North American subspecies H. r. erythrogaster differs from the European subspecies in having redder underparts and a narrower, often incomplete dark breast band.
The Middle Eastern subspecies H. r. transitiva and the resident Egyptian subspecies H. r. savignii also have orange-red underparts, but with a broad dark breast band.
The Asian subspecies H. r. gutturalis, H. r. mandschurica, H. r. saturata, and H. r. tytleri are similar to the North American subspecies, with variably darker orange underparts (pale in gutturalis, darkest, deep orange-red, in saturata) and a narrower dark breast band.
Similar species
Can be told from all swallows by its deeply forked tail.
Sounds
Feeding & Behavior
Most often seen flying
Habitat & Nesting
Build cup-shaped nests constructed of mud collected in their beaks. The inside of the nest is lined with grasses, feathers and other soft materials. They normally nest in accessible buildings such as stables or under bridges and wharves. Before these types of sites became common, they nested on cliff faces or in caves. The female typically lays 4 or 5 eggs. Both parents build the nest and feed the young.
Range
Found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The European subspecies breeds in Europe and western Asia, as far north as the Arctic Circle, and migrating to Africa in winter. North American subspecies breeds throughout North America, migrating to South America in winter. Asian subspecies breed in eastern Asia and winter in southern Asia and northern Australia.
Resources
