Educate Yourelf About the Tree Swallow and Other Swallows
Tree Swallow
The Tree Swallow is white below, steel blue-green-black above, broad wings, and the wing tips reach the tail tip. Its length is 5-6 in (13-15cm) Its wingspan is 14in (36cm)
Its voice is a song of “weet, trit-weet”, don in different presentations, and the call is a “cheet” or “chi-weet” and a liquid twitter. Their eggs are white, with one clutch consisting of 4-6 eggs. The female incubates for about 13-16 days, and fledging time is around 20, up to 24 days. Both male and female feed their young.Male and female look alike.
They are called the Ferraris of the bird world, built for speed and maneuvering, and watching these birds with their streamlined bodies dipping and gliding in the sky is really a treat. The Swallows are master insect eaters, and without them we would have a miserable time at the picnic table.
The Tree Swallow winters in the southern United States and Mexico, and are common in most of the U. S, but for the southern parts. The shorter migration they take, the sooner they can come back to set up nesting spots, they used to be restricted to already build woodpeckers cavities, but now you will find them occupying artificial nest boxes in your lovely bird feeding garden as well. The dimensions you have for bluebirds are suitable for Tree swallows, but make sure you place them at least 20ft (6m) apart, to provide nesting spots for them both. To learn more, go to our section on NEST BOXES AND SHELFS.
Soon after the snow melts the female will, “which does most of the nest building”, collect fine grass and line the nest with feathers witch will help insulate the eggs during very cold days and nights in early spring time. They both feed their young with a diet consisting of small insects.
The Tree Swallow is similar looking to the Violet-green Swallows (Tachycineta thalalssina), but for its green back, and the white on its flanks which extends upwards towards the tail. The Tree Swallow is common in most of the United States, except for the southern parts.
The Tree Swallow will mostly feed on beetles, flying ants and flies, but are also known to feast on grasshoppers, wasps, and bees. They have shown to be extremely adaptable to their feeding habits as well, and sometimes they can be found feeding on tiny insects and sand fleas “crustaceans”, on sandy shores and beaches. During he winter months and very cold weather, and insects are hard to find, they will feed on smartweed, sedges, and bulrushes.
If you like to attract Tree Swallows, Cliff Swallows or Violet-green Swallows (which are common west of the Great Plains), having a large pond and providing bird houses with a 1 ½ inch entrance hole, or nest shelf’s for the Barn Swallows might do the trick. Creating a mud puddle with a large enough area around it, where the birds can easily get airborne, might also entice them to visit your lovely bird feeding garden. Scattering some white chicken or duck feathers across the lawn can be irresistible temptations, and planting insect attracting perennials or shrubs will help as well.
