The barn swallow would appear to be a common species in Canada, as we can find them in all provinces and territories. Thus, the idea that its population and survival may be under threat can come as a surprise. But in Ontario alone, the barn swallow’s population between 1966 and 2009 plummeted by 65 percent, and reports in the past 40 years have shown a 76 percent decline. These enormous drops have resulted in the barn swallow (Hirundi rustica) being listed as “threatened” in Canada, and its global population numbers are on a decreasing trend.
Swallows are one of those birds that