Barn Swallow at Bear River MBR, Box Elder County, Utah

Swallow Images, Facts and Information:

Family: Hirundinidae

Swallows and martins can be found around the world on all continents except for Antarctica. All members of the Hirundinidae are highly adapted to aerial feeding and have streamlined bodies and long pointed wings. Their diet consists of insects but some species do supplement their diet with fruit and plant matter.

Some species of swallows nest in caves while others will use man made nest boxes, a few are secondary cavity nesters while some species build nests from mud and plant material while others nest in burrows in sand banks.

Most of the swallows in North America are long distance migrants but some Cave Swallows are year round residents in some parts of their range in Mexico.

Swallows can be found from sea level to high alpine areas.