Barn Swallow Watching in Oregon

Barn Swallows are common throughout most of the world, and they are often found in great numbers in Oregon during their spring and summer breeding season. They use most of North America during summer, and will spend winters anywhere from southern Mexico to the southernmost tip of South America. They are usually 6 or 7 inches long, and their most distintive physical feature is their iridescent blue upperparts.Their diet consists almost exclusively of flying insects, and during summers they mostly eat flies. They'll sometimes be found following farm equipment in fields as this often brings insects out into the open, and other times they feed over water. They drink by flying low over water and scooping it up with their beek as they go.

Habitats for Barn Swallows

The Barn Swallow needs mud to build its nest, and often does so in barns or other manmade non-occupied structures, but beyond this they can adapt to many habitats. They generally prefer open areas for feed, though they are also common near water and sometimes in residential areas. They are commonly found in the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge during spring and summer.

Best seasons to see Barn Swallows in Oregon

Barn Swallows usually begin arriving in Oregon in April, and will begin their migration back south by September or October at the latest. Their numbers are usually greatest in late spring.

Barn Swallows in Oregon summary

Typical habitat: Open fields, among many other places
Seasons: Spring and summer
Abundance: Very common in their typical habitats

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