Barn Swallow
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Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Farmland (summer).
Diet: Aerial insects.
Best time to spot: Long tail-streamers, red throat.
When to look
A summer visitor, typically in the UK from April to October. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.
How rare is it?
The Barn Swallow sits in our Common tier for the UK: one of the birds you can expect on most days out in the right habitat. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Barn Swallow is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Common CuckooUncommon · Reedbeds
- Eurasian HobbyUncommon · Heathland
- European Turtle DoveRare · Hedgerow farmland (summer)
- Western House MartinCommon · Villages
- Canada GooseCommon · Lakes
- Collared DoveCommon · Gardens
Tell it apart
Side-by-side ID guides: Swift vs Swallow vs House Martin.
Kit that helps
Best nest boxes for UK birds. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.
Log a Barn Swallow in your free UK Birdedex