Facts About the Tree Swallow

Tree swallows are a type of migratory songbird that are equally beautiful to ear and eye. The song of the tree swallow is cheery with a trilling, almost chattering sound that is pleasant to the ears. The bright plumage of the male birds also make the tree swallow a pleasant sight in the spring and summer. The birds eat a large diet of insects, which benefits gardeners.

  1. Identification

    • The tree swallow is a small songbird with a split tail. The male is bluish-green on top and white on the bottom. Females are brownish-green with white undersides. Immature birds are gray on back without any blue. Sometimes the immature birds have a brown band across the chest or neck. The wingspan is around 10 inches.

    Habitat

    • Tree swallows live in a variety of locations and climates. They prefer areas with large trees and will only breed in areas with large amounts of tree cover. They also prefer a nearby water source, such as a river, pond, marsh or lake. Tree swallows will also live in nest boxes.

    Diet

    • Tree swallows' diet consists almost exclusively of bugs and insects. That is why they prefer a water source near their home: They fly back and forth across the water, catching the bugs in their mouths. Tree swallows will also eat a small portion of seeds and berries when they are available. However, they gain most of their nutrients from flying insects, such as dragonflies, mosquitoes and moths.

    Regions

    • Tree swallows have a large migration and living region. They are found across the entire continent of North America. In the northern regions, such as Alaska, Canada and as far south as some parts of Mississippi, the tree swallow will nest and breed. The bird cannot endure the cold winters in the northernmost regions and migrates south to Mexico and beyond. In the spring they return to their breeding grounds in the North.

    Attraction

    • It is easy to attract a tree swallow to live in your home or yard. All it takes is a nest box hung in a tree or on a high post. The presence of large nearby trees will increase the chances that the tree swallow will make your yard its home. A nearby water source, such as a small pond or even a large bird bath will also encourage tree swallows to live in your yard. Because the birds are migratory, once tree swallows nest in your yard, they are likely to return to the same spot for many years.