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Hirundinidae - Swallows, Martins

There are around 82 bird species in this family. Bird species in this family are found all over the world.

They have short, wide bills; short legs; and small, weak feet. Their bodies are long and slender, and they have long, pointed wings.

Many species have long, forked tails and feathers with a metallic shine on their uppersides and lighter feathers on their undersides.

Most species are four to nine inches in length. In most species, males and females look alike.

Birds in this family eat insects, and they catch their prey in the air. Many species, like the barn swallow, have adapted to living near humans. Barn swallows often use barns and other buildings as nesting sites.

Most species in this family live and travel in flocks, and all of the species in North America migrate.

  • The tawny-headed swallow is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Tawny-headed Swallow
    (Alopochelidon fucata)
    The tawny-headed swallow is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The white-banded swallow is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-banded Swallow
    (Atticora fasciata)
    The white-banded swallow is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-capped swallow is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-capped Swallow
    (Atticora pileate)
    The black-capped swallow is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The lesser striped swallow is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Lesser Striped Swallow
    (Cecropis abyssinica
    The lesser striped swallow is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The greater striped swallow is found in Angola, Botswana, Congo, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Greater Striped Swallow
    (Cecropis cucullate)
    The greater striped swallow is found in Angola, Botswana, Congo, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Asian house-martin is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Asian House-martin
    (Delichon dasypus)
    The Asian house-martin is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Nepal house-martin is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Nepal House-martin
    (Delichon nipalense)
    The Nepal house-martin is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The northern house-martin is breeds across most of Europe and Northern Asia. It winters in southern Africa and Southeast Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Northern House-martin
    (Delichon urbicum)
    The northern house-martin is breeds across most of Europe and Northern Asia. It winters in southern Africa and Southeast Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The white-throated swallow is found in Angola, Botswana, Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-throated Swallow
    (Hirundo albigularis)
    The white-throated swallow is found in Angola, Botswana, Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Angola swallow is found in Angola, Burundi, Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Angola Swallow
    (Hirundo angolensis)
    The Angola swallow is found in Angola, Burundi, Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The pied-winged swallow is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pied-winged Swallow
    (Hirundo leucosoma)
    The pied-winged swallow is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The red-chested swallow is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Red-chested Swallow
    (Hirundo lucida)
    The red-chested swallow is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Welcome swallow is found in Australia and New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Welcome Swallow
    (Hirundo neoxena)
    The Welcome swallow is found in Australia and New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • In North America, the barn swallow breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland, Canada, and south to California and northern Florida. It winters in Mexico, Central America, and South America. The barn swallow also breeds in northern Europe, northeastern Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Barn Swallow
    (Hirundo rustica)
    In North America, the barn swallow breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland, Canada, and south to California and northern Florida. It winters in Mexico, Central America, and South America. The barn swallow also breeds in northern Europe, northeastern Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The wire-tailed swallow is found in central and southern Africa and parts of southern and southeast Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Wire-tailed Swallow
    (Hirundo smithii)
    The wire-tailed swallow is found in central and southern Africa and parts of southern and southeast Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Pacific swallow is found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pacific Swallow
    (Hirundo tahitica)
    The Pacific swallow is found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The brown-bellied swallow is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Brown-bellied Swallow
    (Orochelidon murina)
    The brown-bellied swallow is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The fairy martin is found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Fairy Martin
    (Petrochelidon ariel)
    The fairy martin is found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The streak-throated swallow is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Streak-throated Swallow
    (Petrochelidon fluvicola)
    The streak-throated swallow is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • In the U.S., the cave swallow breeds in New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. It is also found in Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cave Swallow
    (Petrochelidon fulva)
    In the U.S., the cave swallow breeds in New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. It is also found in Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The tree martin is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Tree Martin
    (Petrochelidon nigricans)
    The tree martin is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The cliff swallow breeds from Alaska east across most of Canada and south across all but the southeastern U.S. into Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cliff Swallow
    (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
    The cliff swallow breeds from Alaska east across most of Canada and south across all but the southeastern U.S. into Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The chestnut-collared swallow is found in Ecuador and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Chestnut-collared Swallow
    (Petrochelidon rufocollaris)
    The chestnut-collared swallow is found in Ecuador and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The gray-breasted martin is found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray-breasted Martin
    (Progne chalybea)
    The gray-breasted martin is found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Caribbean martin is found in the islands of the Caribbean. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Caribbean Martin
    (Progne dominicensis)
    The Caribbean martin is found in the islands of the Caribbean. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Southern martin is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Southern Martin
    (Progne elegans)
    The Southern martin is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The purple martin breeds in central and southern Canada; the eastern half of the U.S.; along the Pacific Coast; and in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. It winters in South America. The purple martin breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Purple Martin
    (Progne subis)
    The purple martin breeds in central and southern Canada; the eastern half of the U.S.; along the Pacific Coast; and in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. It winters in South America. The purple martin breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The brown-chested martin is found throughout South America. It is also found in Panama. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Brown-chested Martin
    (Progne tapera)
    The brown-chested martin is found throughout South America. It is also found in Panama. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Fanti saw-wing is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Fanti Saw-wing
    (Psalidoprocne obscura)
    The Fanti saw-wing is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Eurasian crag-martin is found in mountainous regions of southern Europe, northwestern Africa, and southern Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Eurasian Crag-martin
    (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
    The Eurasian crag-martin is found in mountainous regions of southern Europe, northwestern Africa, and southern Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The blue-and-white swallow is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Blue-and-White Swallow
    (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
    The blue-and-white swallow is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The bank swallow breeds across much of Canada and the northern U.S. It winters in South America. It also breeds across much of Europe and Asia, where it is known as the sand martin. The bank swallow breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Bank Swallow
    (Riparia riparia)
    The bank swallow breeds across much of Canada and the northern U.S. It winters in South America. It also breeds across much of Europe and Asia, where it is known as the sand martin. The bank swallow breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

The barn swallow is one of the birds found in this family.
The barn swallow is one of the birds found in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

Bank Swallow - Riparia ripariaLeast ConcernNorth/Central AmericaSouth AmericaEuropeAsiaAfrica
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rusticaLeast ConcernNorth/Central America
Cliff Swallow - Petrochelidon pyrrhonotaLeast ConcernThreatened in NHNorth/Central AmericaSouth America
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolorLeast ConcernNorth/Central America

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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