For details point at or click the
Swallow Hirundo rustica [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Hirundinidae
BTO Codes:
SL , SWALL
EURING No:
9920
Number in Britain:
678 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
3 Concern, most not in Europe; Depleted
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
rustica recorded in Britain (of 7 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
18 cm
Wingspan:
34 cm
Weight:
M/F: 19 g
Scientific name from:
L.: hirundo =the swallow
and L.: rusticus =rural
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Eurasia, North America, WINTERS: south to s Africa, n Australia, s South America
Habitat:
Open country, usually near water, farmland
Diet:
Flying insects, especially flies (Diptera) usually by aerial pursuit
TitBit:
Thought by many (until the 19th Century) to hibernate in the winter; females will choose to mate with males with the most symmetric tails as these are of higher quality
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
678 thousand territories
in 2000
First Record:
7th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Latest Survey:
Robinson, R.A. et al. (2003) Bird Study 50:1-7
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Villages
Also common in:
Pasture Farmland
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Average Day of First Arrival:
29 Mar
European Population Size:
Summer:
14 to 29 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
20 x 14 mm
Egg Weight:
1.9 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
1803
Clutch Size:
4 - 5 eggs
4.55 ± 0.76 (2 - 9) N = 6082
Incubation:
17 - 19 days
17.87 ± 2.68 (13 - 23) N = 6081
by the:
Female (occ. Male)
Fledging:
20 - 22 days
20.95 ± 2.63 (16 - 26) N = 9811
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
5 Jun (9 May - 31 Jul)
Number of Broods:
2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
31008
Adult Survival:
0.57
Juvenile Survival:
0.395 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
11yr1m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A
Wing Length
Adult:
125.6 ± 3.6
Range
121 - 131 mm, N =8326
Juvenile:
123.0 ± 3.2
118 - 128 mm, N =16641
Male:
126.7 ± 3.0
122 - 131 mm, N =3341
Female:
124.6 ± 3.0
120 - 129 mm, N =3795
Weight
Adult:
19.90 ± 1.75
Range
17.20 - 23.00 g , N =6897
Juvenile:
19.85 ± 2.02
17.50 - 22.30 g , N =14764
Male:
19.91 ± 1.69
17.40 - 23.00 g , N =2776
Female:
19.80 ± 1.79 .
17.10 - 23.00 g , N =3157
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Barn Swallow
Gaelic:
Gobhlan-gaoithe
Welsh:
Gwennol
Danish:
Landsvale
Dutch:
Boerenzwaluw
Finnish:
Haarapääsky
French:
Hirondelle rustique
German:
Rauchschwalbe
Hungarian:
Füstifecske
Icelandic:
Landsvala
Irish:
Fáinleog
Italian:
Rondine
Norwegian:
Låvesvale
Polish:
Dymówka
Portuguese:
Andorinha-das-chaminés
Spanish:
Golondrina común
Swedish:
Ladusvala
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Turner, A.K. 2006 The Barn Swallow Poyser, London
[598.852 TUR]
Moller, A. 1994 Sexual selection and the barn swallow Oxford University Press, Oxford
[598.852 MOL]
Turner, A. 1994 The swallow Hamlyn, London
[598.852 TUR]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
© British Trust for Ornithology, | Privacy Statement
button; for sources point at the 
button
Other Names
