Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is one of our most popular migratory birds, which hikers often encounter near mountain pastures, farms, and alpine huts below the forest line. Its appearance is unmistakable, as it has a metallic blue back, a bright reddish forehead and throat, and a characteristically long and deeply forked tail. This tail is usually longer in males than in females, helping them attract mates. It grows to a length of 19 centimeters, and across the wings measures up to 35 centimeters, enabling exceptionally fast and agile flight just above the ground or water surface. It is a distinctly sociable bird that often stays near humans, building nests from mud and straw preferably under eaves or inside farm buildings.
In the mountainous world, it is easiest to spot it while hunting insects, which are its only food, skillfully using air currents for quick turns. The Barn Swallow is regarded as a symbol of spring, its return from Africa in April heralding the awakening of nature in our mountains. It is a tireless flyer that covers thousands of kilometers in its lifetime, yet faithfully returns to the same nest every year. Its presence along hiking trails, with its lively chirping and acrobatic flights, always enlivens the mountain landscape again and reminds us of the remarkable feats of bird migrations.