The Barn Swallow is a familiar and popular bird throughout the world. It is one of the most widely distributed bird species, breeding in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa and wintering in South America, southern Africa, southern Asia and even northern Australia. Its habit of nesting close to human habitation has made this elegant bird a part of farmyard and village life and a welcome herald of spring. This book examines all aspects of the life of this endearing bird, with chapters on its flying skills and feeding habits, mate choice, breeding strategies, nest sites, eggs and incubation, nestling rearing, productivity and survival, migratory behaviour and population dynamics. It also considers changes in populations and behaviour in relation to intensive agriculture and climate change. The Barn Swallow is both engaging and authoritative; birdwatchers will enjoy amazing insights into the life of the species, such as the importance of tail feathers when finding a mate, or the sinister way that some birds kill of the chicks of rivals. Academic scholars will appreciate the book's broad overview of current research on this species.

Since studying their feeding behaviour as part of her doctorate, Angela Turner has been fascinated by swallows. She has written many papers and books on these birds, and is the author of Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World (Helm) and The Swallow (Hamlyn). She is Editor of the journal Animal Behaviour.

List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgements

1 The Swallows
2 Flight and Feeding Behaviour
3 Social Behaviour and Socialisations
4 Attracting and Choosing a Mate
5 Breeding Strategies
6 Nest Sites and Nests
7 Eggs and Incubations
8 Chicks and Parental Care
9 Productivity and Survival
10 Migration and Dispersal
11 Populations

Appendix: Scientific names of plants and animals mentioned in the text
Bibliography