Violet-green swallow.

I always look forward to the return of the swallows. I mostly see tree swallows around where I live, but occasionally one of these colourful guys will show up. I find all swallows fascinating; they are very graceful on wing and can turn on a pinhead, a dime not doing their aerobatics justice. Tree swallows have nested in some of my bird boxes.

Violet-green swallows are fond of water and usually nest in cavities around lakes, streams, or ponds. They tend to fly higher than other swallows; this reduces competition with their feathered kin. They will fly low to the water's surface, much as tree and barn swallows do, when aquatic insects are breeding and hatching.

If you go to the Audubon website (click here) and scroll down you will find a map showing the swallow's range in summer and winter. It also shows how climate change will likely affect its range. Global warming will have a significant impact on this bird species, as I am sure it will many others.

Violet-green swallows are some of the smallest swallows. They may nest in groups. They will nest in boxes but tend to prefer oval holes rather than round ones. There is an interesting video here.

Thanks for reading.     Ericspix     Eric Svendsen