Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

13-15 cm (5-6") Common across North America. Open areas near water and woods.

Dark, iridescent blue-green above, may be greener in fall. Clear white below. White of cheek does not extend above eye or higher up on rump as in Violet-green Swallow.

Immature: gray-brown above, white below with a grayish diffuse breast band; similar Bank Swallow has distinct breast band.

Nests in tree cavities and bird houses.

Song: cheerful series of liquid twitters.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Greg Schneider

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Greg Schneider

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Tree Swallow Portrait

Credit: Larry Bond

Nesting Tree Swallows

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Tree Swallow

2 rules

Rule 1 9 criteria confidence 9

What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Swallow-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:269-tree-swallow:1:1 Source: 269 Tree Swallow, row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 1

What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Swallow-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:269-tree-swallow:2:1 Source: 269 Tree Swallow, row 2