Focus on Arts and Ecology

By Ross Feldner, February 1, 2023

You will usually see Barn Swallows foraging for flying insects in open areas near farm buildings, bridges, and other open-structure buildings, as well as over water. Their nests are built in a cup shape using mud and are attached to a rough-wooded beam or concrete structure. While they once built their nests in caves and cliffs, they have adopted human-built structures such as barns, hence the name Barn Swallow.

They provide a valuable eco-service by the vast numbers of flying insects they eat. Extremely agile flyers, they catch these insects, mostly flies, wasps and flying beetles, on the wing. Not using pesticides around your property can help swallows, other insectivores and the environment!

a trip of about 5,500 miles. Many Barn Swallows have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with Ospreys. Ospreys offer protection while Barn Swallows alert them to predators.

Fun Facts

To build a new nest, a pair
of swallows can make
over 1,000 trips, bringing back
a mouthful of mud on each trip.

Swallows often follow agricultural machinery so they can catch the insects disturbed by the work.

Barn Swallows often mate in the air. They can also feed their young and  drink water, all while flying!

They can travel as many
as 600 miles a day.

Older offspring help
care for new hatchlings.

A group of swallows is called
a “kettle” of swallows.

The Barn Swallow is the most common of the eight swallow species found in the United States.

If you’re deemed a threat,
Barn Swallows will swoop and start making alarm calls or dive bomb you.

Click here for amazing close up video