Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

13 cm (5") Common. Western North America. Mountains, open woodlands, coastal areas, suburbs.

Told from similar Tree Swallow by white rump patches that extend upward from the sides to nearly meet at the base of the tail. Also more extensive white on face; the white from the cheek extends upward partially encircling the eye.

Song: rapid twitters "chit-chit-chit-chit wheet, wheet".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Red Tail Reach, Whatcom Creek Greenway, Bellingham, WA - May 26, 2012

Credit: Andrew Reding

Credit: Don Loarie

Credit: Alan Vernon

Credit: Noël Zia Lee

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Violet-Green Swallow.MP4

Credit: Lawrence Bobo

Nature Minute 14 - Violet-green Swallows

Credit: Chris Cooley

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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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.

Violet-green Swallow

2 rules

Rule 1 10 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 · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:271-violet-green-swallow:1:1 Source: 271 Violet-green 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 · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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 ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:271-violet-green-swallow:2:1 Source: 271 Violet-green Swallow, row 2