Swallows of Alberta - Quick ID Guide

A common bird species you may encounter while exploring Alberta in the spring and summer might look like this:

Photograph by Jay McGowan, June 22, 2016, New York Macaulay Library, Bank Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Or this:

Photograph by Phil McNeil, April 20, 2017, New York, Macaulay Library, Tree Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Or this:

Photograph by Dorian Anderson, June 02, 2017, California, Macaulay Library, Cliff Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Or this.

Photograph by Nick Pulcinella, May 13, 2015, Pennsylvania, Macaulay Library, Barn Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Although it may be easy to pick out the differences between these species when you’re comparing them on a page, it is much more difficult to accurately identify these birds in the field. The birds above are all swallows. From the family Hirundinidae, swallows are typically insectivorous and agile flyers (Sibley 2016, 305). There are six swallow species you can find throughout Alberta: Bank Swallows, Tree Swallows, Cliff Swallows, Barn Swallows, Northern Rough-Winged Swallows, and Violet-green Swallows (Sibley 2016, 306-309). The most common swallows, Bank, Tree, Cliff, and Barn Swallows, typically breed in North America and winter as far south as Argentina in the Cliff Swallow’s case (Sibley 2016, 306-309: Cornell University, 2024a).

Here are some common ID tips you can use in the springtime, when these frequent flyers come around!

Bank Swallow: (Riparia riparia)

Photograph by Darelene Friedman, July 31, 2020, Michigan Macaulay Library, Photos and Videos for Bank Swallow, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

A Bank Swallow’s underside is mostly white, but with a very distinct brown chest band and brown upperside. Although juvenile Tree Swallows can have a chest band, it won’t be as distinct as that of a Bank Swallow (Brown, n.d.).

The Bank Swallow is the smallest of the swallow species, and breeds in open lowland areas near bodies of water, usually avoiding forests or wooded areas (Cornell University, 2024b). They nest in large colonies on vertical banks and bluffs, in loose soils (Cornell University, 2024c).

Photograph by Serge Morneau, June 07, 2020, Quebec, Macaulay Library, Photos and Videos for Bank Swallow, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Photograph by Max Nootbaar, May 19, 2018, Virginia, Macaulay Library, Photos and Videos for Tree Swallow, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Like the Bank Swallow, Tree Swallows have a clean white underside. Their upperside, however, is a metallic blue hue, although some can appear quite brown. There is high contrast between the cheek and throat area, which can make Tree Swallows more easily distinguishable when comparing swallow species (Brown, n.d.). Juvenile Tree Swallows can look like Bank Swallows, but are slightly larger, more brown, and have a less distinct chest band (Cornell University, 2024d).

You can often find Tree Swallows foraging and breeding in open habitats near water, like fields and wetlands, and they will often nest in man-made nest boxes and tree cavities (Cornell University, 2024d).

Photograph by Anonymous, n.d., Macaulay Library, Tree Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Photograph by George Pagos, May 24, 2017, Washington, Macaulay Library, Cliff Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cliff Swallows are slightly bigger than Bank Swallows (Cornell University, 2024e), and they can be distinguished by a few key traits; they have a dark throat compared to their pale body, and they have a dark upperside compared to their pale rump (Brown, n.d). Adults also have a white forehead patch and a squared tail (as opposed to the forked tail of the Barn Swallow) (Brown, n.d).

You will often find Cliff Swallows nesting in colonies on vertical cliff faces, bridges, and other man-made structures (Cornell University, 2024f). Their nests are made of individual mud pellets and have been described as “gourd shaped” (Cornell University, 2024f).

Photograph by Mitch Walters, June 17, 2016, Alaska, Macaulay Library, Photos and Videos for Cliff Swallow, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Photograph by Mason Maron, April 24, 2020, Washington, Macaulay Library, Photos and Videos for Barn Swallow, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Barn Swallows have an orange (or sometimes white) underside, while their throat is a darker orange hue (Brown, n.d). They have a dark blue upperside (a more muted blue than the Tree Swallow), and are slightly larger than the Tree Swallow (Brown, n.d; Cornell University, 2024g). A good feature to note is their tail; adults have a long, forked tail with a band of white that makes them easily distinguishable in flight (Cornell University, 2024g).

You can often find Barn Swallows in open habitats, feeding in areas like fields, meadows, and wetlands.  (Cornell University, 2024g). Their nests are often easily seen, and are found inside structures like sheds or barns, but also bridges or eaves of houses (Cornell University, 2024g). Their nests are made of mud and grass pellets (Cornell University, 2024h) and can be different shapes depending on the structure they are built on. If built against a vertical surface the nest will be “half cupped shaped”, while nests built on a horizontal surface will be a complete cup (Cornell University, 2024h).

Photograph by Teresa Bula, Jan 13, 2024, Argentina, Macaulay Library, https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=barswa

So now you’ve read the run-down on Alberta’s different swallow species, and you have time to practice your ID skills during these chilly winter months. Then, once spring rolls back around and these agile birds return from their southern travels, you’ll be ready to apply your expert ID skills in the field.

Happy birding!

Written by: Amy Adams, AJM Environmental Scientist 

References:

Brown, Bobby. 2024. “Swallow Identification Quick Guide.” LycoBirds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

Swallow Identification Quick Guide | LycoBirds

Cornell University. 2024a. “Cliff Swallow Range Map.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

Cliff Swallow Range Map, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University. 2024b. “Bank Swallow Identification.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

Bank Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University. 2024c. “Bank Swallow Life History.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

Bank Swallow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University. 2024d. “Tree Swallow Identification.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

              Tree Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University. 2024e. “Cliff Swallow Identification.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

Cliff Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University. 2024f. “Cliff Swallow Life History.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024

 Cliff Swallow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University. 2024g. “Barn Swallow Identification.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

Barn Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University. 2024h. “Barn Swallow Life History.” All About Birds. Accessed January 16, 2024.

Barn Swallow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Sibley, David. 2016. Sibley Birds West: Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. Second Edition. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.