Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: BARS, Hirundo rustica erythrogaster.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Passeriformes   >   Family Hirundinidae   >   Genus Hirundo   

Status:

An abundant nesting species throughout Maryland and most of the rest of the U.S., arriving in late March and departing in September. Rare in Maryland in late fall and winter. Although they formerly nested in caves, now nearly all Barn Swallows nest on man-made structures. Barn Swallows winter in central and South America.

Description:

Distinctive swallow with deep blue above and tawny coloration below. Note deeply forked tail.

Relationships:

Aerial insectivore that feeds on a wide variety of insects.

There are 728 records in the project database.

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Barn Swallows in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/11/2012. Photo by Jared Fisher. (MBP list)

Barn Swallow in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/6/2020). (c) Dany Sloan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dany Sloan via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Howard Co., Maryland (7/29/2018). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Dorchester Co., Maryland (8/22/2006). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Howard Co., Maryland (6/26/2014). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/8/2017). Photo by Buddy Scott. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/6/2019). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/20/2006). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Barn Swallows in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/14/2017). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Barn Swallow in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/3/2010). (c) peterlos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by peterlos via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Barn Swallow in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/1/2023). (c) Matt Felperin, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Matt Felperin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/25/2020). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Barn Swallow in Cecil Co., Maryland (8/4/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow on Assateague Island, Maryland (7/10/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A juvenile Barn Swallow in Howard Co., Maryland (7/1/2023). (c) Bonnie Ott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Bonnie Ott via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Howard Co., Maryland (5/13/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A fledgling Barn Swallow in Howard Co., Maryland (7/1/2014). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow nest with nestlings n Harford Co., Maryland (7/29/2017). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Young Barn Swallow in Harford Co., Maryland (7/29/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Barn Swallow in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/8/2021). (c) david mlr, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by david_mlr via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Barn Swallow in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/30/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Barn Swallow in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/6/2023). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow with nestlings in Kent Co., Maryland (6/8/2014). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

Juvenile Barn Swallows in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/6/2016). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow in Howard Co., Maryland (6/3/2019). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow nest with young at Chino Farms in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/29/2012). Photo by Maren Gimpel. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow and its nest in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/30/2014). Photo by Wendy Crowe. (MBP list)

A Barn Swallow nest in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/7/2018). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)


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