Barn Swallows are the most cosmopolitan swallow on Earth — they breed on every continent except Antarctica.
They construct their open mud-cup nest pellet by pellet, gathering 1,000+ mud balls and shaping them with their beaks.
Their tail streamers are used in mate selection: females prefer males with longer, more symmetrical tails.
Barn Swallows want overhead shelter and an opening in the wall. If you have a barn, garage, or shed they can fly into, you may already be set.
Mount the open shelf or a small mud-cup support 8–15 ft up under a roof, against a vertical wall. They need overhead cover and side wall to attach the nest.
Mud puddles within ¼ mile are essential nest material. A small mud patch in your yard during dry weather can attract a colony.
Aerial insects only. Plant native flowers and leave a no-mow area to support insect populations.
Open flight space around the structure — they need clear approach paths in and out.
Don't knock down old nests in winter; pairs return to the same site for life. The nests need only minor repairs each spring.
An aerial insectivore with one of the largest natural ranges of any songbird — breeds across North America, Europe, and Asia, winters in Africa and South America.
Common breeder from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Texas. Breeds especially around farms, bridges, and other human structures.
Breeds from the British Isles through Russia and Japan, south to North Africa and the Middle East.
Northern populations winter throughout sub-Saharan Africa and across most of South America.
Open country with man-made structures: farms, barns, bridges, culverts, garages. They almost never nest in natural settings anymore.
No entrance hole, no front wall — just a sheltered ledge. Includes drainage and the integrated mounting tab.
See the full lineupLong-distance migrant from sub-Saharan Africa (European population) or South America (North American population). One of the most cosmopolitan songbirds on Earth.