Songs
Both male and female Barn Swallows sing a “twitter-warble” song during courtship and egg-laying, with a long series of continuous warbling sounds followed by up to a dozen rapid, mechanical-sounding whirrs. The song can last 4–20 seconds and is often introduced and followed by a chirp.
Calls
- Song, calls
Recorded by ?
Courtesy of Macaulay Library
© Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Barn Swallows give a cheep call when threatened, and when predators approach too close to a nest site, a churee whistle will send adults diving at the threat. In colonies, this call may flush all of the adults from their nests and set them circling above a predator. Males apparently may foil their mate’s attempt to copulate with another male by giving a “fake” alarm call. Both sexes also give an agitated, stuttering call when chasing other Barn Swallows away from nest sites or mates.
Backyard Tips
Barn Swallows don't come to seed or suet feeders, but they may take ground-up eggshells or oyster shells placed on an open platform feeder. If you have a suitable outbuilding, leaving a door or window open can encourage Barn Swallows to build a nest inside. Providing a source of mud will also help with nest building. Barn Swallows may use artificial nest cups attached to an appropriate surface.
Find This Bird
Look for Barn Swallows feeding above meadows, fields, and farmyards and over water, or perched on wires near feeding areas and nesting sites. During the breeding season keep an eye on mud puddles, as Barn Swallows come to the ground to pick up mud and grass for nesting materials. Their mud nests are often tucked under the eaves of barns and stables, on structures near playing fields, or under bridges. You can find Barn Swallows across most of North America.
Get Involved
Barn Swallow is one of the focal species in our Celebrate Urban Birds citizen-science project.