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Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find Bird Groups

Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica

The agile and nearly ubiquitous Barn Swallow may regularly be seen in Massachusetts skimming over grassy fields for insects, moving along the coast during migration, or building its nest in appropriate structures throughout the Commonwealth.
Conservation Status
Continued Action/Monitoring Needed

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.52
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.52
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.00
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
-2.20
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
862
Atlas II Blocks
921
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
89
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
89
Percent change
101

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
-1.4%
P-value
significant, declining
Number of routes
27
Recent trend 2000-2010
-1.4%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
0
Significantly different than zero
Trend (1963-1979)
0
Significantly different than zero
Trend (1979-2008)
0
Significantly different than zero

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Grassland, Urban and Suburban

Wintering

Does not winter in Massachusetts

Climate Suitability Current and 2050