Violet-green Swallow
Encyclopedia
The Violet-green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina, is a small North America
n swallow.
Their breeding habitat is semi-open areas in western North America
from Alaska
to Mexico
. They nest in cavities in a tree or rock crevice, sometimes forming small colonies.
They migrate
in flocks to Central
and northern South America
.
These birds often forage in flocks, usually flying relatively high but sometimes flying low over water. They eat insects including mosquitos, butterflies, mayflies and moths.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n swallow.
Their breeding habitat is semi-open areas in western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. They nest in cavities in a tree or rock crevice, sometimes forming small colonies.
They migrate
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
in flocks to Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and northern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
These birds often forage in flocks, usually flying relatively high but sometimes flying low over water. They eat insects including mosquitos, butterflies, mayflies and moths.
Description
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.External links
- 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