Barn swallows are distinct in vivid colors and acrobatic flight. They are insect eaters, who catch midges, flies and other insects while in flight. They will also eat crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and moths. They are unique, as they are the only swallow with a long and deep forked tail. The barn swallow nests are cup shaped, made of mud and straw, and stuck to man-made structures such as barns and apartment buildings. They are often found in large colonies around these structures. These images were taken in various places in the southwestern U.S.