9. Barn Swallow

Nests - Pair formation begins on or very soon after arrival on the breeding grounds with nest building occuring about 2 weeks later. The Barn Swallow investigates many potential nesting sites upon arrival on the breeding grounds, spending relatively little time at each initially, but gradually confining their attention to the chosen one. The mud nest is either fastened to a vertical wall underneath a horizontal overhang, often near juncture of wall and ceiling, or built on top of a horizontal ledge or other substrate underneath an overhang. The Barn Swallow has lived in association with humans worldwide for millennia (54). The species will place its nest on nearly any sort of structure, especially if it is near water (for mud collection and drinking) and open fields (for foraging) (9) and provides a wall with an overhang and/or a flat ledge for protection and support. Birds land at a mud source and collect mud in their bill using the lower mandible as a trowel, often mixing the mud with grass stems, and attach the mud pellets to a vertical wall or on top of flat object.

Eggs - Ovate to elliptical ovate, Ground color creamy white or pinkish white and slightly glossy, with small spots and dots of reddish brown, dark brown, purplish brown, and cinnamon. Average clutch size is 3 to 7 eggs.

Incubation - 13 to 15 days with females incubating more than males 

Fledging - Young are altricial and leave the nest after 18 to 22 days.