This bird, our smallest species of swallow, is an aerial dynamo. Look for bank swallows swooping and soaring in open areas, often near water. Like all swallows, they are adapted for catching flying insects. Long, slender wings allow them to dart quickly through the air. They fly with their beaks open and specially adapted feathers, called bristles, help funnel the food into their mouths. Bank swallows can be identified by their grey-brown breast band, more easily seen when they are perching. A dark back and wings contrasts with light underparts and throat.

These birds are colonial nesters, with perhaps thousands of birds in each colony. They excavate tunnels for nests in steep sandbanks, often with neighboring kingfishers. The tunnels are dug by the birds flying repeatedly into the sandbank, gradually making it longer. Tunnels can be up to 3 feet deep. A good place to spot bank swallow tunnels is near the mouth of Nahaham Canyon.

Nesting in colonies may have advantages – protection from predators and more efficient sharing of information of food locations. It’s amazing that bank swallows can recognize their nest and their young in such a large group.