Bird a Day: Barn Swallow

I'm getting low on new birds to take pictures of, hopefully I will be able to get some new species this weekend!  Today's bird is the Barn Swallow.  Aptly named as they make their nests on the eaves of old barns, but they also will use the underside of a bridge or any structure where they can attach their nests.  I even saw a video of a Barn Swallow nesting inside a Home Depot and operating the door by flying in front of the sensor and making it open.  They use mud and their own saliva to build the nest.  When the mud hardens it holds grasses, hair, and feathers together into a cup-like structure where the eggs are laid.  The Barn Swallow below was gathering mud to build its nest.

Barn Swallows are medium sized swallows with long forked tails.  The upper parts are a slatey iridescent blue and underneath they are two different shades of orange with the throat being darker than the belly.  Color in males is an indication of fitness and females choose the male with the brightest plumage.  

Posted in: Barn Swallow