Violet-green swallow

Adults are velvet green on their upperparts with white underparts and a forked tail; they have white patches on the side of the rump. The head is usually more coppery or brownish than the back, and the rump is a glossy violet color. In adult males, the white throat area extends behind and above the eyes; adult females are duller. Immature birds are brown on the upperparts.

Picture of the Violet-green swallow has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.
Original source: Male Violet green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)Uploaded by Snowmanradio
Author: Alan Vernon

The Violet-green swallow is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Violet-green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina, is a small North American swallow. Adults are velvet green on their upperparts with white underparts and a forked tail; they have white patches on the side of the rump. The head is usually more coppery or brownish than the back, and the rump is a glossy violet color. In adult males, the white throat area extends behind and above the eyes; adult females are duller. Immature birds are brown on the upperparts. More

Violet-green Swallow Flock, Allan Brooks, Birds of Washington, William Leon Dawson, 1909 Allan Brooks Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae Genus: Tachycineta Species: thalassina La. passer sparrow, small bird La. forma form, kind, species La. hirundo a swallow Gr. takhus fast, swift Gr. kinetos move Gr. kinetes mover Gr. thalassa the sea Gr. thalassinos sea green La. More

* Violet-green Swallow videos on the Internet Bird Collection * Violet-green Swallow Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology * Violet-green Swallow - Tachycineta thalassina - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter * Violet-green Swallow Information - South Dakota Birds and Birding Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Violet-green Swallow * Violet-green Swallow photo gallery VIREO v • d • More

A beautiful swallow of open woodlands, the Violet-green Swallow is found only in the American West. More

Violet-green Swallows are often found at forest edges with large snags or other cavities for nesting. In late summer they are common at high elevations. During migration, they are often found near water, and in early spring, many remain near water and do not disperse to their breeding areas until the arrival of consistently warm weather. More

Violet-green Swallow resting on a branch NPS Violet-green Swallow The Violet-green Swallow is found west of the Rockies. It is bright metallic green on its back with purple at the base of its neck and above its tail and solid white below. It is distinguished from the Tree Swallow by the white patches above its eye and on its rump. The Violet-green Swallow can be seen in a variety of woodland habitats. More

The Violet-green Swallow has a large range, estimated globally at 6,100,000 square kilometers. Native to the Americas, this bird prefers subtropical or tropical shrubland, grassland, or forest ecosystems as well as hot deserts and intertidal marine areas such as mud and salt flats. The global population of this bird is estimated at 11,000,000 individuals and does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. More

Each spring, the Violet-green Swallow returns to the redwoods of Misty Hill Canyon, announcing the season's promise of renewal. The iridescent flash and sweeping flight of this deft aerialist exemplify nature's pure essence and artistry. At Violet-Green Winery, we strive to make wines that honor the same inherent artistry in the grapes we select to handcraft our wines. Violet-Green Winery PO Box 165 Bayside, CA 95524 | Tel/Fax: 707.445.8679 | Email: wine@violetgreenwinery. More

Violet-green SwallowViolet-green Swallow Violet-green Swallows are similar in appearance to Tree Swallows. Males have nonglossy, velvety green or greenish bronze upperparts, and they are white underneath. Unlike Tree Swallows, however, the white on the face of the Violet-green Swallow extends above the eyes. Also, the Violet-green has two white patches on its rump. Compared to the males, female Violet-green Swallows are dull in color. More

Violet-green Swallows leave their winter range in Central America in early March and are common in our area by April. Some swallows are more common around water, but Violet-greens can be found anywhere there are plenty of insects. These birds prefer old woodpecker holes and natural tree cavities for their nest sites. With increased logging and removal of standing dead timber, there are fewer natural nest sites available. More

Violet-green Swallows are found from the Rocky Mountains west to the Pacific coast. Their range spans from central Alaska and central Canada south to the Mexico's highlands. Violet-green Swallows prefer open, deciduous, or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests containing ponderosa pine, aspen, willow, and spruce trees. In the northern part of its range, this species breeds at lower elevations on the coast and in wooded canyons. In the southern part of their range, they breed at higher elevations (2,000 to 3,000 meters). More

The Violet-green swallow overwinters along the central coast of California especially around the San Francisco bay area and in the central valley. A large portion of the birds in California spend the winter in Mexico as there are far greater quantities of insects down there in the winter that in California. Range of the Violet-green Swallow The range of the Violet-green swallow in California is very complex. More

Violet-green Swallow houses should be placed 9 to 15 feet high in open or broken deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, wooded canyons, or edges of dense forests. Barn Swallow House Barn Swallow House $27.95 Tree Swallow House Tree Swallow House $25.95 Violet-green Swallow House Violet-green Swallow House $25.95 Backyard Bird House Backyard Bird House $29. More

The Violet-green Swallow generally nests in holes and crevices, often using previously excavated holes made by woodpeckers in dead trees, cliff and canyon crevices, and of course, nest boxes. Violet-greens often nest near Tree Swallows, sometimes competing for the same nest holes. They may also occupy the same tree with bluebirds, nuthatches and wrens. They have been observed to prefer the highest available nesting cavities. More

With the Violet-green Swallow the white on the cheek extends above the eye and the white flank patches extend to the sides of the rump in contrast to the Tree Swallow which shares neither of these characteristics. On juveniles these marks are not easily seen, making identification more difficult. One can often identify juveniles by noting the adults from which they seek food. More

A female violet-green swallow brings a mouthful of ants to the nesting cavity while a recently fledged youngster flies nearby. More

Violet-green Swallows are a common sight throughout much of western North America from Alaska south through Mexico, particularly around human habitation. In the minds of many familiar with this bird, spring does not commence until the first “Vee-Gees” arrive and begin prospecting their residential neighborhoods for nest sites. perched5_DeltaPonds040409 This is the standard view one gets of a perched Violet-green Swallow. More

The violet-green swallow closely resembles the tree swallow but is recognized by the large amount of white on the face and the conspicuous white patches at the sides of the rump. It is a western species, breeding from northern Alaska south throughout the West to the edge of the Great Plains. Although common, it is still less abundant than tree swallows and tends to migrate individually or in small groups, rather than in immense flocks. More

Violet-green Swallow - Tachycineta thalassinaThe Violet-green Swallow is a bird of Western North America, and can be found in summer from Mexico all the way up through Alaska. They are similar in appearance and behavior to the Tree Swallow, and sometimes associated very closely with them. Habitat: Will use a wide variety of semi-open habitats during the summer nesting season, including canyon walls, pine forests, riparian areas, and tree groves in more open prairie. More

The male Violet-green Swallow is dull green on its crown, nape, wings and back with distinct white patches on either side of its rump. It has a violet tinge on its wings, nape, the back of its crown and tail. Look for its pure white underparts and forked tail. The white on its throat and head extends over the cheeks and above the eye. Females tend to be duller. More

Violet-green Swallows have the typical swallow shape and flight patterns. Adept aerialists they can somehow zoom through the air and still change course at a moment notice to catch a flying insect. While flying the best characteristic to look for is their white rump. They are the only swallow with a white rump and white breast and it is surprisingly easy to see. More

Violet-green Swallow: Four to six white eggs are laid in a grass-and-feather nest built in a woodpecker or natural cavity, under an eave of a building, or in a nest box. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female. Foraging and Feeding Violet-green Swallow: Diet mainly consists of leafhoppers, beetles, wasps, ants, flies, and bees. Forages in flight, often above the tree canopy; occasionally feeds on the ground. More

Picture of Tachycineta thalassina above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial.
Original source: Blake Matheson
-Blake Matheson -Author: Blake Matheson
Permission: Some rights reserved
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Hirundinidae
Genus : Tachycineta
Species : thalassina
Authority : (Swainson, 1827)