Barn Swallow

Afrikaans name: Europese swael

Photo © Steven Herbert

Hirundo rustica

The Barn Swallow is a common and widespread swallow. It is found in South and North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. It used to be called the European Swallow in South Africa.

This migrant bird has a wingspan of just over 30 cm and weighs around 20 grams.

The Barn Swallow mainly feeds on insects that it catches in flight. It does occasionally take food off the ground.

In our South African winter they return to Europe to breed. They make a nest out of mud and it is normally placed under the roof over hang of a building. They may lay up to 7 eggs.

Mount Moreland, just north of Durban, is a great place to see these birds before they migrate back to Europe.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	493	Hirundo rustica rustica
2nd	493	Hirundo rustica
3rd	493	Hirundo rustica
4th	493	Hirundo rustica
5th	518	Hirundo rustica
6th	518	Hirundo rustica
7th	597	Hirundo rustica

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	493	European Swallow
2nd	493	European Swallow
3rd	493	European Swallow
4th	493	European Swallow
5th	518	European Swallow
6th	518	European Swallow
7th	597	Barn Swallow

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	493	Europese Swawel
2nd	493	Europese Swawel
3rd	493	Europese Swael
4th	493	Europese Swael
5th	518	Europese Swael
6th	518	Europese Swael
7th	597	Europese Swael

References and further reading

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 67

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 43

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 140

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 57

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 54

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 204

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 73

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 177

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 31

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 294

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 282

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 448

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 347

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 454

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 338

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 234

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 261

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 61

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 232

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 232

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 10

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 206

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 411

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 86

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 120

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 174

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 144

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 183

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 32

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 55

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 52

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 169

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 83

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 149

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 65

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 185

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 116

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 83

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 83

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 202

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds