Hirundo rustica

Hirundo rustica, commonly known as the barn swallow, is a small, sleek bird characterized by its deeply forked tail and glossy blue-black upperparts. It has a tawny or buff-colored throat and forehead, with a white or pale underbelly. This bird is renowned for its agility and long-distance migrations, traveling from Europe and North America to Central and South America or Africa for the winter. Barn swallows often nest in human-made structures like barns, bridges, and buildings, feeding primarily on flying insects they catch in mid-air. They play an important role in controlling insect populations and are appreciated for their graceful flight and widespread presence.