Ornithological Note 29
Country: Saudi Arabia
Section(s): range extension, Status and Conservation
On 14 February 2015 I observed a small group of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) using an outhouse at a local farm near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On investigating I found several nests, some of which were under construction. By 21 February there were six complete nests, four of which had sitting birds and two were being lined. The lowest nest held four eggs. Mike Jennings, author of the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia, considers that this is the first confirmed evidence of Barn Swallows breeding in Arabia.
Reference
Jennings, M.C. (2010). Atlas of the Breedings Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission & Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia & Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Recommended Citation
Bracken, B. (2015). First breeding record for the Barn Swallow in Arabia. HBW Alive Ornithological Note 29. In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100029
Partnerships
A global alliance of nature organizations working to document the natural history of all bird species at an unprecedented scale.
