swallow picture

Violet-green Swallow*

Tachycineta thalassina

Nest-Cam nesting timeline for
the 2000 nesting season:

6/2/00 BIRDS ENTER NEST BOX FOR THE FIRST TIME
6/16/00 FIRST EGG LAID (5 EGGS TOTAL)
7/2/00 FIRST EGG HATCHES (5th EGG HATCHES LATE)
7/7/00 EYES OPEN
7/16/00 LATE-HATCH CHICK DIES FROM LACK OF FOOD
7/27/00 ALL 4 CHICKS LEAVE THE NEST


The deep velvety violet-green in contrast with magnificent pearly white underparts, distinguish this species
of Swallow. This is truly a stunningly beautiful bird, when viewed under appropriate lighting conditions

The Violet-green Swallow generally nests in holes and crevices, often using previously excavated
holes made by woodpeckers in dead trees, cliff and canyon crevices, and of course, nest boxes.
Violet-greens often nest near Tree Swallows, sometimes competing for the same nest holes. They
may also occupy the same tree with bluebirds, nuthatches and wrens. They have been observed to
prefer the highest available nesting cavities. It is not as dependent on water as its near relative, the
Tree Swallow (Grinnel & Miller 1944).

Breeding range for this bird extends from central Alaska and western Canada, south to the mountains of
Mexico. In Sonoma County, where we live, the Violet-green Swallow has widespread breeding
records thoughout. It was the eighth most widespread breeding bird according to the Sonoma
County Breeding Bird Atlas. Unfortunately, forestry practices that eliminate standing dead trees
will limit the availability of nest sites for this species of Swallow.

Violet-green Swallows lay 4-5 eggs, sometimes 6. The eggs are oval, white, with no markings
(please see pictures on Nest-Cam Picture Gallery page). Incubation by female; 13-14days. 1 brood per year.


*Much of the data above were obtained from the books; PETERSON FIELD GUIDES
WETSERN Bird's Nests and WESTERN Birds.

The following is a nesting timeline from our first (and, we are proud to say, very successful)
Nest-Cam attempt in 1997. The first column represents the duration (in days) from the first
visual sighting until the occurence of the event listed in the third column. (Ex. The female began
staying all night in the nest box 32 days after the FIRST visual sightings of the this pair of
Swallows in the nest box on 3/14/97).

DURATION DATE(S) EVENT
START 3/14/97 FIRST VISUAL SIGHTINGS
+3 DAYS 3/17/97 FIRST TIME MALE SEEN IN NEST BOX
+11 DAYS 3/25/97 FIRST INDICATION OF NEST BUILDING
+11 TO +47 DAYS 3/25-4/30/97 NEST BUILDING
+28 TO +43 DAYS 4/11-26/97 PEAK NEST BUILDING
+32 DAYS 4/15/97 FEMALE BEGINS STAYING IN NEST BOX AT NIGHT
+47 DAYS 4/30/97 NEST BUILDING DECLINES SIGNIFICANTLY
+67 TO +69 DAYS 5/20-22/97 BEST ESTIMATION OF MATING
+77 TO +79 DAYS 5/30-6/1/97 BEST ESTIMATION OF EGG LAYING
+91 DAYS 6/13/97 FIRST CONFIRMATION OF HATCHING
+96 DAYS 6/18/97 FIRST CONFIRMATION OF EYES OPENED ON CHICKS
+115 DAYS 7/7/97 ALL CHICKS FLEDGE (LEAVE NEST BOX) IN EARLY MORNING

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