Barn Swallow: In winter
The Barn Swallow is a classic long-distance migrant and does not spend the winter in Sweden.
- Migration: it leaves the country in August–September and travels all the way to southern Africa, south of the Sahara.
- In Sweden: there are no Barn Swallows here in winter; a late swallow in October is a badly delayed straggler, not an overwintering bird.
- Return: the birds arrive again in late April in southern Sweden and in May in Norrland.
Being wholly dependent on flying insects, it must head for warmer latitudes as soon as the supply of insects fails.
More about the Barn Swallow