Barn Swallow

I found a barn swallow that had been killed by a passing car while I was walking home today. So I did what anybody would do. I picked it up, brought it home, and dissected it with the kids.












The specimen.


















Measuring.


















Note taking.














Plucking.













The lungs.




Here's the kids report (their observations and measurements):

Juvenile Barn Swallow

Weight: 0.5 - 1 oz.
Length: 5 1/2"
Wingspan: 10"
Color: Back and shoulders - iridescent blue/green
Wing feathers - Charcoal gray
Tail feathers - Charcoal gray w/white spots
Top of head - Charcoal gray w/iridescent blue/green
Chin - Rust
Breast - White w/tan
Underside of wings - Silver
Underside of shoulders - Tan
Down feathers - Black

Notes:
Beak extends to beneath eye; beak has nostrils; point of beak is black while back is yellow.
Feet have 3 toes in front and 1 in back; feet look scaly; feet are dark reddish/brown with white "stripes".
Legs attach to torso 3/8" below wing; leg is 2 15/16" long; scaly part is 1 1/16".
Tail feathers vary from 2" - 2 1/2".
Wing feathers vary from 1 11/16" - 3 1/2".
Heart measures 1/2" X 1/4".
Liver measures 3/4" X 1/4" X 1/8".
Lungs measure 5/16" X 1/4".
Stomach contained a housefly, a wasp, and other indistinguishable bits of insects.


PS - Even Lily helped out!