cliffswallow

Swallows

Swallows are aerodynamic, swooping down and making sharp turns while hunting.

Tree swallows can be spotted in the thousands as they are in large flocks to migrate or over winter.

The barn swallow is the most abundant and wide spread of the swallows.

You can find seven different species of swallows nesting in Iowa. These are the bank, cliff, cave, purple martin, tree, northern rough-winged and barn. The purple martin is the largest swallow in North America.

Swallows have a variety of different nest types. This includes burrows, mud nests, and nesting boxes. Depending on the species swallows can have anywhere from 1 to 7 eggs in a brood and 1 or 2 broods a year.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/

purple martin

Top photo: Yellowstone National Park

Bottom photo: Alan Schmierer