Violet-Green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) lives in open woodland across North America. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Violet-Green Swallow
- Pairs begin courting in mid-May, lay their first eggs by early June and typically raise a clutch of five eggs, laying one egg each day. After a couple of weeks of incubation, the chicks hatch and stay in the nest for about 22-24 days before fledging.
- Unlike most swallows, violet-green swallows often hunt higher in the sky, snatching insects that other birds miss. Their prey are tiny, averaging less than 5 mm in length, so the birds must be incredibly precise, snapping up beetles, ants, flies and even tiny moths mid-flight. By feeding on these minute insects, they help keep pest populations in check, especially in the moist habitats where their prey breed.
- In 1965, three violet-green swallows were found "dead" on a dune near Death Valley, but they were merely in torpor, body temperature dropped and metabolism slowed for about 45 minutes after a cold, windy night. When the sun rose they awoke, opened their eyes and eventually flew away. This rare glimpse of torpor shows the species can survive brief, harsh winter snaps by temporarily shutting down.
- From 1966 to 2015 the violet-green swallow's numbers fell about 28 %, a drop linked to shrinking insect supplies from pesticides and climate change. Despite this loss, the bird remains listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List and is protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act. Monitoring this decline warns us that even common species can quickly become vulnerable if their food base erodes.
- At 12-13 cm long, the violet-green swallow, it weighs 13.8-14.5 g. Its long pointed wings, catching insects on the wing.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeNorth America
HabitatOpen woodland
DietInsects and spiders
About the Violet-Green Swallow
As the sun rises over the open skies, the Violet-Green Swallow dances on iridescent wings, its feathers glimmering like polished jewels as it pursues the whispered promise of insects in the morning air. With a fluidity that belies its tiny form, this avian acrobat weaves and darts, its forked tail streaming behind it like a banner as it chases the ephemeral throngs of flying creatures that sustain it. In its effortless, aerial waltz, the Violet-Green Swallow embodies the very essence of weightless joy, a fleeting, emerald-green spark that ignites the landscape with its presence.
Hear the Violet-Green Swallow, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
