Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

NPS/Gordon Dietzman Birds Home Introduction The barn swallow's deeply forked tail provides exceptional maneuverability in flight as it pursues its insect prey and it is also used in attracting a mate. But that large tail also have disadvantages including increasing the demand on the bird's nutritional intake and may also increase the bird's vulnerability to predators. The barn swallow, unlike the more social bank swallows, usually feeds on low-flying insects and are often solitary hunters. As a result, you will often see only a few of these lovely birds swooping low over the water or land as they hunt. Also unlike bank swallows, barn swallows are not tied to specific nesting locations, such as embankments, but can build their mud nests where there is ample prey. Once nesting in caves, they now build their nests in human-made structures, such as barns (from which they get their name) and the underside of bridges. Identification Key ID Features: Sparrow-sized. Dark, steel-blue above, creamy tan below, with a deeply-forked tail (no other swallow in this area has a forked tail). Present in Park: April through October. Habitat: Farms, suburbs, parks, and often near water features. Voice: A soft twittering.