
A small, slender swallow with short, narrow, pointed wings and a fairly short, shallowly forked tail. Tiny, dark bill. Adults: Bright emerald green crown and back contrast with gleaming white cheek, throat and under parts. White on the auriculars extends behind and above the eye, which is almost entirely surrounded by white feathering. Small patch of glossy purple at the base of the nape, often looks gray in low light. Center of the rump is mostly deep violet with some emerald green feathering. White wraps up from the lower flanks onto the sides of the rump, giving this species a unique dorsal pattern among North American swallows. White may appear to connect across the upper rump in some individuals. Juveniles dusky brown above. Cheeks pale brown, lighter than crown, and a whitish crescent curls up behind the auriculars. Distinguished from the larger Tree Swallow by green and purple (not blue-green) upper parts, white extending above eye, and more white on sides of rump.
Length: 13 (cm) Wingspan: 34 (cm)
Voice:
Voice consists of several short, chirpy chree-chree notes, interspersed with a higher, rising chrit and other similar notes.
Habitat:
Occupies many open habitats, including lakes and rivers, fields, and forest openings. Nests in tree cavities, dirt banks, rock crevasses, or on man-made structures.
Behavior:
Frequently forms large post-breeding flocks (July-Aug). Generally forages higher than other swallows, but also feeds low over fields or water. Flight erratic with fluttery wing beats.
Feeding:
Diet consists of flying insects.
Field Notes
I don't think of this species as a short-winged swallow. A look at the photos in the gallery suggests that, indeed, this is one of the longer-winged species. As indicated above, Violet-greens often fly very high, so high that they can't be seen except with binoculars. A penetrating "chair-tee" note given once or twice, followed by a hectic chittering, is a tipoff when they're flying high.
Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.

I hear these Guys up flying around Very Early up to an Hour before Sunrise chirping in late spring
Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
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Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
09/18/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/11/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/11/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/03/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/03/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/26/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/26/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/19/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/19/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/19/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
05/29/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
05/22/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
JC Blake added a note to Violet-green Swallow Notes | 5/09/2013 at 12:08AM |
Dan Mitchell added Violet-green Swallow to their Mitchell's Backyard, Tigard, Oregon smart list | 8/07/2011 at 9:28AM |
David Fix added a note to Violet-green Swallow Notes | 7/04/2011 at 3:50PM |
Bjorn Hinrichs added Violet-green Swallow to their Home - Yard List smart list | 4/25/2011 at 6:52PM |
Bob Archer added Violet-green Swallow to their Tualatin River Nat Wildlife Refuge smart list | 4/24/2011 at 3:42PM |