Beauty of the Barn Swallow

Barn swallows are pretty bautiful birds and it appears to have the largest natural distribution of any of the world's passerines. The Barn swallow uses man-made structures to breed and consequently has spread with human expansion. They often build their nest under the roofs of farms and lives in close association with humans, and its insect-eating habits mean that it is tolerated by humans; this acceptance was reinforced in the past by superstitions regarding the bird and its nest.

When the Barn swallows return from the south it is a sign that late spring and summer is not far anymore. This bird here showed off its beauty and came very close so I could take these great pictures of the barn swallow sitting on a bridge. It probably had its nest nearby.

Barn Swallow. Picture: Florian Glechner.

When the sunlight shines in the right anglo on the feathers of the bird, it's feathers can shimmer in a very beautiful blue color like on some of these images. I always like it very much when I can get that close to a bird that it is full frame in the image and some details of the face and feathers are visible like in these pictures. But you always need some luck to get that close without the bird leaving.