It has a forked tail and is a glossy shade of blue-black. Female martins can be identified by a lighter underside. These swallows migrate to South America for the winter and return to the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico early in the spring. From there, they continue their flight northward. Martins build most of their nests in tall compartment-style bird houses designed especially for this large breed of swallow.
Barn swallows are about six to seven and one half inches in length.
This species of swallow can be identified by a deeply forked tail, chestnut colored throat, buff colored underside, and a shiny blue-black backside. These migrating birds can be seen across all but the southeastern portion of North America. The barn swallow builds nests of mud on beams in barns and other open structures. They also build nests on supports beneath bridges. The cliff swallow is between five and six inches in length, has a chestnut colored throat, light underside, buff colored rump, and a white band above the beak.