Swallows of any kind are hard for me to photograph. They hardly ever stay still, always flitting around catching bugs. This barn swallow was especially difficult, even if I did catch it sitting on barbed wire long enough for me to get a few pictures. The side toward me was quite dark. It was facing away from me and backlit. So I shot this picture when it turned its head toward me. I did the best I could.
Interesting fact - "The oldest known Barn Swallow in North America was at least 10 years old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maryland." (From 'All About Birds')