Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Locally common Summer migrants from March-November with about 1 million breeding pairs in Britain & Ireland.

Winters in South Africa.

Also breeds in mainland Europe.

Adults have steel blue upperparts and a rufous forehead, chin and throat, which are separated by a broad dark blue breast band.

The outer tail feathers are elongated, giving the distinctive deeply forked "swallow tail".

There is a line of white spots across the outer end of the upper tail.

The Female is similar in appearance to the Male, but the tail streamers are shorter.

Juveniles are duller & lack the tail streamers.

Their calls include witt or witt-witt and a loud splee-plink.