Barn Swallow - Up Close

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Glistening cobalt blue above and tawny below, Barn Swallows dart gracefully over fields, barnyards, and open water in search of flying insect prey. Look for the long, deeply forked tail that streams out behind this agile flyer and sets it apart from all other North American swallows. Barn Swallows often cruise low, flying just a few inches above the ground or water. True to their name, they build their cup-shaped mud nests almost exclusively on human-made structures.

Video captured on a Nikon P1000 at the Ingham Conservation District property in Mason, Michigan on July 16, 2023.