Violet-green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina · Swallows
The Violet-green Swallow is a small, agile songbird of western North America, often admired for its iridescent plumage. When illuminated by sunlight, its back shimmers with metallic green and its rump with violet. These aerial insectivores are known for their acrobatic flight as they pursue insects high in the sky.
Explore the full field guideMigratorySmallTwittering callsAerial insectivore
1 call·first heard Jul 14·last 89d ago
When it's heardpeak 2p · fall
5a12p9p
How to know it
- Adults display a metallic green back and an iridescent violet rump, especially vibrant in good light.
- Distinctive white patches on the sides of the rump, often called 'saddlebags,' are visible even in flight.
- White feathers extend onto the face, curling from behind the ear and above the eye, giving a unique facial pattern.
- The belly is clean white, contrasting with the darker upperparts.