Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
The Bank Swallow is a slender, agile bird with brown upperparts and white underparts, distinguished by a narrow brown band across its chest. It is highly social, often seen in flocks swooping over water in search of insects. In Patagonia, it is a summer visitor, arriving to breed in large colonies along riverbanks and lakeshores. Its burrowing nesting behavior is unique among local swallows, as it excavates horizontal tunnels in sandy or earthen banks to lay its eggs. The Bank Swallow’s aerial acrobatics and chattering calls are a familiar sight and sound near Patagonian waterways during the breeding season. After nesting, these swallows undertake impressive migrations to wintering grounds in South America, demonstrating remarkable endurance and navigational skills.
Habitat
Prefers open areas near rivers, lakes, and streams with exposed sandy or earthen banks suitable for nesting.
Foraging
Feeds on flying insects caught in midair, often foraging in flocks over water or open fields.