Rob Robinson

Well-known, widespread and common aerial foraging insectivore. Breeds in a wide range of climates in Asia, N America, Europe and N Africa. Typical species of open agricultural landscapes with water, where buildings and bridges provide nesting sites. Feeds almost entirely on flying insects such as flies, beetles, bees, wasps, ants, butterflies and moths. Migratory; European birds winter in sub-Saharan Africa with some individuals staying in S Europe and NW Africa. North American birds winter in South America, birds breeding in East Asia winter in South Asia.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		51900000-89500000,66500000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Barn Swallow

Long-distance migrant with clear connectivity; western-European breeding sites mainly connected to wintering sites in W Africa, while more easterly breeding sites connect to wintering sites in southern half of Eastern Africa. Exceptionally, birds from the British Isles and the Norwegian west coast nearly all winter in South Africa. Notable leapfrog migration with northernmost breeding populations (including British Isles) wintering furthest south, mainly in South Africa; birds from the Low Countries and CE Europe wintering over broad band from W Africa through Congo to Zambia; and S European breeders mainly connected to wintering sites in Nigeria and the Central African Republic.

Recoveries by Condition for Barn Swallow

Very high number of encounters from mid-1990s. Over 80% of encounters are related to ringing activities, with an increasing trend over time. There are relatively more live encounters in Europe compared to sub-Saharan Africa. Almost complete absence of live recoveries from Congo. Very high density of live recoveries in British Isles, The Netherlands and Belgium due to long tradition of and RAS projects. There are very few live encounters in France and N Africa.

Annual Movements for Barn Swallow

FFirst N movements in Iberia are apparent in early March; in Italy the end of March. Numbers increase in NW Africa and SW and W Europe from April with mass arrivals end April–early May. Northernmost breeding sites are reached by the end of May. African wintering grounds and NW African staging grounds are vacated by 20 May. First southward movements begin in September and odd birds reach African wintering grounds. Northernmost breeding sites are vacated mid-September. Numbers in Africa increase from early October, when birds start crossing the Sahara. Birds start to arrive in South Africa in early November at which point most have left Europe. There is autumn passage through the Middle East from the end of August to early November, peaking in early October. Passage through Iberia is slightly earlier in September.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Barn Swallow

Birds on passage in SW Europe in Sep–Oct connect to wintering sites in S and W Africa and breeding sites in NW Europe. Winter recoveries in SW Europe all connect to relatively close-by breeding sites in W Europe and the British Isles, without any connections further south, indicating true wintering and not late passage. In contrast, there appear to be no Barn Swallows wintering in SE Europe and the Middle East. Birds that are still in Europe during late autumn rarely reach the sub-Saharan wintering grounds, suggesting high mortality. Those still in N Europe in October generally do not seem to move further south and those in W Europe in November do not seem to cross the Pyrenees and presumably all perish locally.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries