Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Identification
This swallow has a forked tail and blue and orange plumage. It is agile in flight.
Location
Common statewide
Size
0.7 ounces
Diet
It feeds on flying insects.
Habitat
It occurs in open fields and near water.
Activity Period
April to October
Behavior
It nests on buildings and bridges. It migrates south in winter.
Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in spring.
Population
The population is stable statewide.
History
It has long been common in Ohio.
Human Interactions
It often nests on human structures.
Facts
It is one of the fastest flying songbirds.
Sources
ODNR academic sources
Insects caught in flight | Fields farms lakeshores | Statewide