Common Nesting Birds

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Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina )


Photo © Mike Wisnicki

Violet-green Swallow eggs

Photo © RenĂ© Corado

Violet-green Swallow nests

Photo © RenĂ© Corado

Adult male

Photo © Joshua Covill / Macaulay Library

Adult female

Photo © Garrett Hughes / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Frank Lin / Macaulay Library

Immature

Photo © Brian Sullivan / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Brad Vissia / Macaulay Library

Juvenile

Photo © Becky Matsubara / Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Darren Clark / Macaulay Library

Adult female

Photo © Joshua Vandermeulen / Macaulay Library

Adult female

Photo © Laure Wilson Neish / Macaulay Library

Adult female

Photo © Kenneth Stinchcomb / Macaulay Library

Song

© Dave Herr / Macaulay Library

Dawn song

© Andrew Spencer

Calls

© Randolph Little / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Nathan Pieplow

Calls

© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Justin Hite / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Andrew Spencer

When To Look

Source: Birds of the World

Where To Find It

Habitats

open woodland

Substrates

Nestbox or Birdhouse

Live Tree Cavity

Dead Tree Cavity

What You'll Find

Nest Type

cavity

Chick

Altricial

Clutch Size

4
6

Nest Height

15 ft
5 ft

Nesting Statistics

Incubation Period

13-15
days

Brooding Period

23-25
days

Useful Hints

  • Violet-green Swallows commonly nest in small colonies of up to 25 nests, but isolated pairs have been reported nesting in dead trees, especially near lakes and streams.
  • The female is the primary nest builder and can take from six days to three weeks.
  • During egg-laying and incubation, the male brings feathers with which to line the nest.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology