| |
|
| '''Tree Swallow | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Tachycineta bicolor |
They breed in North America and are migratory, wintering from Mexico southwards. This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.
These passerine birds average 5 inches long with a tiny bill. Their plumage has iridiscent blue-green upperparts, white underparts, and a forked tail; the female has duller colours than male. Juvenile plumage is dull brown above and may have hint of a gray breast band.
Tree Swallows nest in cavities near water and are often found in large flocks. They subsist primarily on a diet of insects, supplemented with small quantities of fruit.