Tachycineta Bicolor
Identification Tips:
- Length: 5 inches
- Tiny bill
- Iridescent blue-green upperparts
- White under parts
- Forked tail
- Female duller than male
- Juvenile dull brown above and may have hint of a gray breast band
- Most often seen flying
- Nests in cavities near water
- Often found in large flocks
Similar species:
- The Tree Swallow is most similar to the Violet-green Swallow.
- The Violet-green Swallow has white patches that extend further onto the sides of the rump, a white area that extends behind and over the eye and greener upperparts.
- Bank Swallow is smaller, this feature is especially noticeable as mixed flocks of swallows often sit on telephone wires.
- Bank has a dark breast band that is lacking or indistinct in the Tree.
- From above, Bank Swallow has a paler rump that contrasts with the darker back and tail where the Tree Swallow is uniformly-colored.
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow has a dusky throat and warmer brown upperparts than the Tree Swallow.
- Swallows often call in flight and these calls are excellent clues to identification.
