Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Catches bugs in mid-air while carrying your message. The ultimate multitasker.

Population: ~290-487 million mature individuals globally (decreasing trend)
Habitat: Open country with low vegetation and nearby water — farmland, pastures, meadows, and waterways; nests almost exclusively on man-made structures (barn eaves, stable overhangs, bridges) though historically used cliff faces and caves
Fun fact: The Barn Swallow is the most widely distributed swallow species on Earth and is the national bird of both Austria and Estonia.
Range: One of the most widespread bird species in the world; breeds across the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, North America, North Africa) and migrates to winter across much of the Southern Hemisphere (sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South America, northern Australia)
Diet: Aerial insectivore — catches flying insects on the wing, with large flies making up roughly 70% of the diet in breeding areas; also eats aphids and, on wintering grounds, flying ants
Size: 0.18 m
Wingspan: 0.33 m
Lifespan: 11 years

More Speed Demons