Violet-green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
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![]() The purple on the upper-tail coverts, often not seen, identifies this as a male of this most beautiful of North American swallow species. Green on the back can be bright in both sexes, male head usually relatively bright green; female head duller green to brownish. The extension of white above the eye is a mark that allows distinction of Violet-green from Tree Swallows in flight. The two species co-exist in the San Francisco Bay Area, with the Violet-green usually at higher altitudes and the Tree more often near bodies of water. |
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![]() Females above and below, showing the characteristic slightly duller green back, crown dull green or brown, and less distinct separation between crown color and white cheek. |
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![]() It's not always easy to see the "violet" on these birds, as above, but the pictures at the top and the three below give good looks at it. |
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![]() The shot above shows another mark that allows distinction of Violet-green from Tree Swallows; the white of the underparts extends further onto the rear upperparts of the Violet-green, giving the appearance of a white rump in on a bird in flight. |
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![]() Above, another view of the male swallow's beautiful coloring: pure white underparts, rich green crown, bright green back, rich brown coverts, a glimpse of the purple tail coverts, and a bit of purple at the shoulder. Below, a side view with the male turned to face the camera, showing green tinged with purple on the back, and deep purple tail-coverts. (Maybe you can tell I'm fond of these birds.) |
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![]() Pairs (or the same pair) interacting while perched at the same spot a year apart in April of 2016 and 2017, female calling above, both birds below. A pair of Violet-green Swallows have regularly nested in this snag. It's hard for me not to see these two similar interactions anthropomorphically, as marital squabbles. | |
![]() Below, the male of the pair shown above flies away. | |
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![]() My only other flight shot of a Violet-green Swallow, taken just east of the Chiricahuas, near the Arizona-New Mexico border. |