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View Full Version : Is this a tree swallow?

rutt
May-18-2005, 11:33 AM
There is some controversy among our local bird experts.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/22347165-L.jpg

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/22347184-L.jpg

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/22347313-L.jpg
Nee7x7
May-18-2005, 11:51 AM
...definitely a swallow of some sort. Not sure if it's a tree swallow, but other than the coloring it looks just like the swallows that nest under the aquaduct bridges in our area (shape of head, beak, wings, etc.). ~Nee
MuskyDude
May-18-2005, 11:59 AM
Looks like it could be a purple martin as well, but I'm not positive...
AJ
rutt
May-18-2005, 12:01 PM
If it helps any, it lives in a tree house along on the bank of the Charles River.
ginger_55
May-18-2005, 12:11 PM
Nevermind the bird, what kind of tree's branch is that big compared to a bird?

Maybe I am tireder than I thought. Or it is :1drink . But I don't.

ginger
Sorry about the emoticon, I forgot.
MuskyDude
May-18-2005, 12:19 PM
On second thought (and google images), sure looks like a tree swallow to me.


AJ
rutt
May-18-2005, 12:22 PM
The thing that has the local birders confused is how blue it is. This is true in both diffuse and direct light. I didn't get a shot of Mrs., but she often sits right next to him and isn't nearly so blue.
pathfinder
May-18-2005, 02:48 PM
There is some controversy among our local bird experts.


http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/22347313-L.jpg


This very strongly resembles the pictures of the tree swallow in image 356 in the Nat Audobon Soc FieldGuide to North American Birds - Eastern region.

Glad to see you about, John. Did you see any of my bird images from my road trip out west to Yosemite?
Nee7x7
May-18-2005, 09:22 PM
Looks a lot like your bird, except for the forehead, throat and breast color. The black on this swallow has that same bluish purplish sheen, if that helps you with the I.D. ~Nee
Hawkman
May-19-2005, 01:12 AM
And the one posted previous to my post is a barn swallow. THe male tree swallows blue can vary from very dark to medium, depending how the light hits it, and the female is more brown, with a little bit of blue irredescence.

The Barn swallow has duller and less blue mixed with a rusty brown. See below (the last photo is a 100% pixel level crop).

- Gene

Male tree swallow:

http://www.pbase.com/gaocus/image/28082027/original.jpg

Female tree swallow:

http://ck37.image.pbase.com/image/42932455/original.jpg


Barn swallow:

http://www.pbase.com/gaocus/image/32339587/original.jpg

http://ck37.image.pbase.com/image/32684571/original.jpg