Birds of North America

Swallows

Hirundinidae

Lives, Habitats & Pictures of Swallows

There are seven native types of swallows found in North America. Swallows are common throughout the continent, the Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow and Tree Swallow can be seen from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast and into Northern Canada and Alaska. The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is seen throughout the USA and all of the southern provinces of Canada. The Violet-green Swallow has a range on the western coast, from Alaska to Mexico, along the Rocky Mountains. The Cave Swallow has the smallest range, and can be found along the southern perimeters of New Mexico and Texas, with a small colony in southern Florida. The Bahama Swallow is a vagrant swallow and sometimes seen in the southern regions of Florida also.

Swallows feed on insects, these acrobatic birds catches their prey as they maneuver through the air. Found mostly around water, most swallow species build their nest from mud. Exception to this is the Bank Swallow, who prefer to burrow into the sides of sand banks, and the Tree Swallow and Violet-green Swallow, who will nest in cavities in trees and posts, and use man-made birds houses, when given the opportunity.

Return Swallows back to Field and Stream Birds

Return Swallows back to Birds of North America

Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB