From Opus

Photo by steenl
Photo taken: Beluga Point, Alaska.

Tachycineta thalassina

[edit] Identification

Males have nonglossy, velvety green or greenish bronze upperparts, and are white underneath. White on the face extends above the eye, unlike Tree Swallows. Two white patches on rump. Females are dull in color. Juveniles are grayish-brown with a faint bronze sheen on the back.

[edit] Similar Species

Similar in appearance to Tree Swallows.

[edit] Distribution

Found from the Rocky Mountains west to the Pacific coast. Spans from central Alaska and central Canada south to Mexico's highlands.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies:

• T. t. brachyptera breeding in Mexico
• T. t. thalassina in the rest of its range

[edit] Habitat

Prefers open, deciduous, or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests containing ponderosa pine, aspen, willow, and spruce trees. In northern range, breeds at lower elevations on the coast and in wooded canyons. Breed at higher elevations in the southern part of their range.

[edit] Behaviour

Fly rapidly in small flocks in pursuit of flying insects, like other swallows. This species spends more time perched than some others.

[edit] External Links