Order: Passeriformes, Family: Hirundinidae, Genus: Hirundo
Barn Swallow
A small, agile songbird recognized by its deeply forked tail, long pointed wings, and sweeping flight patterns.
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Plumage & appearance
Steely blue upperparts, cinnamon-colored forehead and throat, and a tawny-to-white underbelly
Ecological significance
Acts as a natural pest controller by consuming large quantities of insects, especially flies and beetles, mid-flight.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN)
Observation tips
Look for them perched on utility wires or fences near open fields, and watch for their distinctive low-flying blue-and-orange silhouettes near water.
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