barn swallow

American  

noun

1. a common swallow, Hirundo rustica, of North America and Eurasia, that nests in barns and similar buildings.

---

barn swallow British  

noun

1. the US and Canadian name for the common swallow, Hirundo rustica See swallow 2

---

Etymology

Origin of barn swallow

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

Photographer’s description: “I was at the Nisqually wildlife refuge with my camera set up for photographing herons and eagles. This barn swallow let me get close and ‘fill the frame’ for this portrait shot.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 3, 2022

Female barn swallows primarily sing just before they begin breeding—knowing that can help observers track the timing of barn swallow nesting, for example.

From Scientific American • May 4, 2022

Nearby is a bottlelike nest made from dried mud reinforced with feathers — the nursery of the barn swallow.

From Washington Post • May 28, 2019

Here Pamuk flits like a barn swallow over fascinating issues of contemporary Turkish life, but never alights long enough to offer interesting insights or even substantially enrich the story.

From New York Times • Oct. 16, 2017

But she sticks out her chin all the same, says, “Try me” to Frank like she’s ready for a real challenge, like she’s a barn swallow going after a hawk.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers