Birding is sometimes...hard to...Swallow

(...grooooan.....) Horrible pun. Sorry. But more sightings of swallows are being posted daily. They're moving north and have already hit Spokane and the south end of Pend Oreille County. Most sightings have been for Violet-green swallows, with at least one sighting of Tree swallows. Swallows are pretty much exclusively flying insect eaters so that means there must but early hatches of some insect species to feed on. The recent warm weather is sure to bring on more hatches.

Swallows move so fast, and make so many quick turns, it's sometimes hard to make clear identifications. The Violet-green_Swallow is very common in Northeast Washington. Their metallic green backs and iridescent purple rumps are good field marks to identify this swift flyer.  Males have a white "cheek patch" that helps distinguish them from females and juveniles.

Violet-green Swallow, male (courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology)


Our other early arrival swallow is the Tree_Swallow. Their steely blue-green feathers flash in the sunlight. Males have a narrow blackish eye mask that serve as a good field mark. They lack the white cheek patch of the Violet-green male swallows.
 
Tree Swallow, male (courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

As the spring progresses look for other swallows to breed in our area. Look for the Northern_Rough-winged_Swallow near rivers and streams. Barn_Swallows favor fields and grassy areas for finding insects and, of course, barns and other buildings to build nests. The Cliff_Swallow is found near lakes and ponds and builds crazy nest colonies on bridges and rock ledges (and cliffs!) nearly always at the juncture between vertical walls and horizontal ledges.

Check out the All About Birds website for more details on these swallow species (and more), including little known fun facts.

Get out there and enjoy the first days of spring and welcome the new arrivals

             -Hawkeye