Birds & Blooms - USA (2020-08 & 2020-09)

30 birdsandblooms.com AUGUST I SEPTEMBER 2020

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Barn swallow

Look for mostly

blue heads and

white dots on

forked tails when

identifying barn

swallows.

An old saying goes, “One swallow

doesn’t make a summer.” Fortunately, we don’t

have to settle for just one species. During the

summer, members of the swallow family are

common all over North A merica—from the

tropical borders to the chilly Arctic.

Swallows are incredibly graceful

songbirds, able to swoop and glide for

hours as they chase small insects in

midair. Most are very sociable, often

gathering in flocks on roadside wires

whenever they’re not flying. Beloved

by birdwatchers, the birds are often

found close to people, nesting around

houses and farms.

Before Barns

Historically, barn swallows placed

their nests inside shallow caves or on

cliff faces protected by overhanging

rocks. They looked for spots sheltered

from the rain because their nests

are made mostly out of mud pellets,

plastered in place and allowed to dry.

When European settlers began

building barns, the swallows quickly

learned to use these shelters to their

advantage. Today, almost all barn