Bank Swallow

Bank Swallow

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Food
7. Behavior
8. Reproduction
9. Conservation Status
10. Other Names

The Bank Swallow nests in colonies in streamside banks across much of North America. It can also be found across most of Europe and Asia.

Cool Facts

• A Bank Swallow colony may range from 10 nests to nearly 2,000.

• The male Bank Swallow often pursues females other than its mate at the colony and attempts to mate with them. The male is most likely to chase a female in her fertile period.

Description

• Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 25-29 cm (10-11 in)
• Weight: 10-19 g (0.35-0.67 ounces)

• Small slender songbird.
• White underneath and brown on top.
• Dark band across chest, extending down middle of chest.
• Small bill.
• Long wings.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Immature

Similar to adult, but with pale edging to back feathers.

Similar Species

• Northern Rough-winged Swallow has brown wash over throat and chest and lacks a chest band.
• Juvenile Tree Swallow has brownish back and a faint band across chest, but the band is faintest in the middle and does not extend down the chest.

Sound

Song is a harsh twittering

Range

Summer Range

Breeds from western Alaska to Newfoundland, southward to central United States and southern Texas. Also across Eurasia.

Winter Range

Winters in South America, with some in Mexico. Also in Africa and southern Asia.

Food

Flying insects.

Behavior

Foraging

Catches insects in flight.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Flat platform of grass, straw, rootlets, plant stalks, or leaves, placed in long burrow in bank. Nests in colonies.

Egg Description

White.

Clutch Size

Condition at Hatching

Naked and helpless.

Conservation Status

Populations may be declining in some areas.

Other Names

Hirondelle de rivage (French)
Golondrina ribereña, Golondrina Barranquera (Spanish)
Sand Martin (British) (English)

Sources used to construct this page:

Garrison, B. A. 1999. Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia). In The Birds of North America, No. 414 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.