The barn swallow migrates between Europe and southern Africa and is recognized by its deeply forked tail.
Barn swallows breed across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and parts of North America. European populations generally leave their breeding grounds in late summer or autumn and travel south through routes that lead to sub-Saharan Africa. They return in spring, often arriving at familiar breeding areas and using buildings, bridges, barns, and other human structures for nesting.
Its long, pointed wings and forked tail are adaptations associated with agile aerial flight. Barn swallows catch flying insects in midair, so migration timing follows seasonal changes in insect availability. Their upperparts are glossy blue-black, while the throat and forehead are often reddish, with pale underparts.
A common mix-up is confusing the barn swallow with the house martin or swallow-tailed species such as the wire-tailed swallow. The barn swallow’s scientific name is Hirundo rustica, and it has one of the broadest natural distributions of any swallow.