Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

• Length: 6.75 – 7.5 in
• Wingspan: 12.5 – 15 in
• Plumage is a rich blue back and tail with a brick red throat and lighter orange underside.
• Sexes similar, but female is has a lighter underside and shorter tail
• Juvenile similar to adult but not as richly colored
• Small aerial bird with a more flowing and graceful flight pattern than other swallows.
• Long, two tipped tail
• Bill small and sharply pointed near the face
• Found nesting in barns and other buildings
• Underwings bicolored: orange with dark blue flight feathers

The Barn Swallow is of very different colors than the Swift’s – look for the flashes of orange and deep blue while the bird is in flight.

Photos courtesy of Casey Tucker
Photo courtesy of Dave Russell