Young people on a lark might keep in mind that all birds, except cuckoos, build their nests before hatching their eggs.

An anonymous/unknown author

Tree Swallow: Have you seen this bird?

Tree Swallow

The Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, is a migratory passerine bird that breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Tree Swallows nest in natural or artificial cavities near water and are often found in large flocks. They readily use nest boxes, including those built for bluebirds.

Identification Tips:
• Length: 5 inches
• Tiny bill
• Iridiscent blue-green upperparts
• White underparts
• 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 and Northern Rough-winged Swallows look similar, especially in Fall. Bank Swallow is smaller, this feature is especially noticeable as mixed flocks of swallows often sit on telephone wires.

Tree Swallows are known to “fight” over feathers in mid-air for reasons which are still under investigation. There is some speculation that this is a form of play.

They subsist primarily on a diet of insects, sometimes supplemented with small quantities of fruit. Tree Swallows are excellent fliers and take off from their perch and acrobatically catch insects in their bills in mid-air.