| Barn swallows arrive in spring, nest in summer and leave in autumn to pass the winter in Africa. They have narrow wings with a very long, forked tail, glossy-blue black upperparts, a blood-red face and throat, and creamy underparts.
Swallows take huge quantities of insects, capturing them on the wing. They nest in houses, always under cover, both in inner courtyards and under balconies. The cup-shaped nest is built by both members of the pair using mud balls mixed with plant material.
Barn swallows are closely linked to the rural environment. In Barcelona, farmland and farmhouses have gradually disappeared as the city has grown. This disappearance has resulted in a fall in swallow populations. Nevertheless, Barcelona still conserves small populations in outlying neighbourhoods such as Sarrią, Nou Barris, Horta and Poble Sec.
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