Species BirdsTree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

CommonBird
Illustration of Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

The Tree Swallow is a cavity-nesting swallow with iridescent blue-green upperparts and clean white underparts. It is notable among swallows for its ability to digest berries when insects are scarce during cold spring weather — allowing it to be one of the earliest returning migrants. It is the most-studied wild bird in North America due to extensive nest box monitoring programs.

Habitat
Open areas near water, fields, and forest edges with cavities
Diet
Flying insects and berries in cold weather
How common
Common

Best time to see a Tree Swallow

The best time to see a Tree Swallow is March–May, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 58,786 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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