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Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Note the face with white that wraps up behind the eye

General Description: Violet-green Swallows (Tachycineta thalassina) are birds of the open sky that feed on the wing and don't often perch where you can get a good look at them. In flight, Violet-greens are iridescent green above and bright white below with bright white patches on the sides of the rump. The top of the head is dark and the chin is light, similar to Tree Swallows, but a crescent-shaped, white ear-patch extends up behind and over the eye.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Hirundinidae, Hirundininae.

Favored Habitat: Swallows are birds of the open sky that feed on the wing. They can be found in most habitats as they pass through the Las Vegas area during migration. Violet-green Swallows breed in the local mountains.

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)

Where to Find: Swallows can be found anywhere, but it usually is easier to find them in open marshy areas and over water. Look for them at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the meadow at Calico Basin, and the pasture at Corn Creek. During summer, look for them on Mt. Charleston.

Comments: Swifts and swallows can sometimes be hard to tell apart in flight. The key is the way they fly. Swallows flap their wings like normal birds -- both wings go up and down at the same time. Swifts do this too, but they flap so quickly that the wings appear to move in opposite directions with one wing going up while the other goes down -- more of a swimming motion.

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)

If you were a tasty flying insect, this might be the last face you ever see!

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Note the face with white that wraps up behind the eye
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Violet-green Swallow in flight: note white rump patches
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) juvenile
Violet-green Swallow fledglings
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Violet-green Swallow fledgling
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Violet-green Swallow at a nest site
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Violet-green Swallow nesting cavity in sandstone cliff (arrow)

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240122

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