Barn swallows visit the Chesapeake Bay region from spring through early autumn. (Maggie Smith/Flickr)
The barn swallow is a small, agile bird that visits open waters, wetlands and farm fields throughout the Chesapeake Bay region from spring through autumn.
Appearance:
Steely, metallic blue back, wings and tail
Creamy beige underparts
Light brown or rust-colored throat and forehead
Females and juveniles are less boldly colored than adult males
Deeply forked tail with long outer feathers
Long, pointed wings
Grows 5.5-7 inches long with a wingspan of 12.5-13.5 inches
Habitat:
Lives over any type of open area, including open water, marshes, pastures and grain fields
Large flocks often seen perched on electrical wires and other high structures
Range:
Common throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers beginning in early April, when it migrates from its southern wintering grounds
Leaves the Bay region in late summer and early autumn
Feeding:
Eats insects such as moths, flies, crickets, beetles and grasshoppers
Often seen trailing behind farm tractors, feeding on plowed-up insects
Uses its large, gaping mouth to catch insects while in flight
Skims the surface of the water to drink while flying
Predators:
Nestlings have many predators, including gulls, rats, cats, squirrels and raccoons
Hawks, owls and falcons prey upon adults
Flight:
An agile flyer that can quickly dive and turn while in the air
Often flies low over the water or land in search of insects
Voice:
Sings a variety of calls, both as an individual and as a group
Also makes a clicking noise by snapping its jaws together
Barn Swallow courtesy of Pamela C. Rasmussen, Avian Vocalizations Center
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Pairs form in spring, once the birds return to their breeding grounds
Builds a nest of mud and plant materials, securely fastened to the wall of a barn or shed or the underside of a pier or bridge
Barn swallows can’t carry mud in their tiny claws. So males scoop up mud in their roomy beaks and bring it back to the female.
The female lays an average of four brown-speckled white eggs, which she incubates for approximately two weeks
After hatching, the parents feed the nestlings. They often chirp while begging for food.
Young begin flying three weeks later
Usually lives about four years, but can live as long as eight years
Other Facts:
The most abundant and widely distributed swallow species in the world
