Description

Distinguishing Features - Length: 19.5 cm long; colouration: upperparts, dark steel-blue; forehead, throat and mid-breast, chestnut; balance of underparts, pale cinnamon; tail, deeply-forked. Female duller with shorter tail.

Habitat

Breeds from north-central Alaska southwestward throughout Canada's boreal region; also below the tree line in Scandinavia and most of Eurasia southward; forages in open terrain, usually near water; marshes; builds mud nests in buildings, under bridges and overhanging cliffs.

Diet

Mostly flying insects caught on the wing.

Notes

Barn Swallows derive their name from their habit of often constructing nests in barns and other buildings, which are then lined with grass and feathers for nesting.

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