Tree Swallow or Violet-Green Swallow?
Here's how to tell the difference
Tree Swallow
Violet-Green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
General appearance
The tree swallow measures between 5 to 6 1/4 inches or 13-16 cm. It displays a sharp contrast in colors between the top and bottom, with dark above and clean white below. Its wing shape is broad, long, pointed and tapered. The tail shape is notched and square-tipped.
Male vs female
The adult males and females of tree swallows have distinctive colorations. The adult males are glossy blue or green above, with a dark cap that extends down to the eye level. The females might show similar coloration, although possibly less glossy.
Juvenile
Juvenile tree swallows display a different coloration from adults. They are dusky brown above and often have a gray-brown wash across their chest. This is unlike the Bank Swallow, which exhibits a more prominent marking on the chest. With time, the juveniles' color changes to resemble those of the adults.
Size
4.7 - 5.5 in/0.6 - 0.8 oz
There's more to learn about Tree Swallow
View full detailsViolet-Green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina
General appearance
The violet-green swallow is about 5 1/2 inches in size and a bit smaller than a Tree Swallow. It shows faster wingbeats with less gliding. It is dark from above, with a color glossed in violet and green when viewed in good light. It has white rump patches that almost meet above the tail, and white circling up on its face. Its wings are long, narrow, pointed, and tapered. The tail is notched and square-tipped.
Male vs female
In terms of differentiation, the females appear to be duller than the males. A significant distinction can be seen on the face, which appears smudged in the case of females.
Juvenile
Juvenile violet-green swallows possess a gray-brown hue from above. The face appears dingy, and it can sometimes be hard to discern such young swallows from their Tree Swallow counterparts.
Size
4.7 - 5.5 in/0.5 oz
There's more to learn about Violet-Green Swallow
View full detailsHow to tell the Tree Swallow from the Violet-Green Swallow
Visual differences
Tree Swallows measure 5-6 1/4 inches long and have glossy blue or green upperparts with sharp dark cap extending to eye level. Their tail is notched. Males are glossier, while juveniles are dusky brown above. Violet-Green Swallows, at about 5 1/2 inches, have a violet-green gloss on dark upperparts, with white rump patches near the tail and white extending around the face. Females appear duller and smudged. Juveniles are gray-brown. Both have pointed, tapered wings, but the Violet-Green Swallow is lighter at 13-15g, compared to 17-22g for Tree Swallows.
Key differences and behavior
Tree Swallows and Violet-Green Swallows differ in their habits and habitats. While Tree Swallows often nest alone and return to new mates each year, Violet-Green Swallows can nest alone or in small colonies and may return to the same breeding site annually. Tree Swallows prefer open areas near water, utilizing nest boxes and diverse sites, whereas Violet-Green Swallows favor semi-open habitats like open forests and canyon walls, sometimes nesting in cacti. Dietarily, both feed on flying insects, but Tree Swallows uniquely supplement with plant material, especially in winter. During courtship, Tree Swallows focus on territory, while Violet-Green Swallows engage in aerial displays. Despite shared feeding on insects, their habitat and social nesting behaviors noticeably set them apart.
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