Temperature and rainfall shape the breeding ecology of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in an arid region

Local weather conditions play a critical role in shaping avian reproduction, yet our understanding of these patterns in arid environments, where climate change is expected to increase drought frequency, is limited. This study investigated the effects of temperature, rainfall, and wind speed on the breeding ecology of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) in an arid region of Algeria during 2023 and 2024. Using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), we assessed these effects for several life-history traits and breeding parameters including clutch size, incubation duration, hatching success, nestling period duration, and reproductive success. Our results indicate that clutch size decreased seasonally, while incubation duration increased with rainfall and was shorter for second clutches. Hatching success correlated positively with the amount of precipitation and was higher in second clutches. Nestling period duration increased both seasonally and with prolonged incubation. Reproductive success..., , # Temperature and rainfall shape the breeding ecology of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in an arid region

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.31zcrjf1w](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.31zcrjf1w)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset contains breeding data for the Barn Swallow (*Hirundo rustica*) collected from three administrative communes (M’sila, Ouled Madi, and Sidi Aissa) in Algeria during the 2023 and 2024 breeding seasons. It includes detailed records on nesting phenology, environmental conditions, and reproductive outcomes across both rural and urban habitats. Nests were located through systematic searches across villages and farmland before the beginning of the breeding period. Daily weather data (minimum, maximum and mean temperature, precipitation, and wind speed) were obtained from the nearest weather station to the study area, M’sila station (station number 604670), via the website TuTiempo.net ([https://fr.tutiempo.net/m-sila.html](https://fr.tutiempo.net/m-si...,