Barn swallows have an average lifespan of 4 years and those with longer, more symmetrical tails tend to live longer.
The average lifespan of barn swallows is 4 years. Barn swallows of 8 years of age have been documented, but these are considered the exception.
Survival prospects and longevity appear to increase with tail length and wing and tail symmetry.
• Image | © Sandy/Chuck Harris, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC 2.0)
• Sources | (Moller, June 1994, July 1994; Perrins, 1989; Roth, 2002; Terres, 1991)
