Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

      (Grass or Fields/Pasture or Any Emergent Wetland or Sedge Meadow)
   containing:
      (Snags or Living Cavity Trees or Man-made Structures - nest boxes)
   neighboring:
      (Any Open Water)

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Today the Tree Swallow is primarily a bird of open country, being especially abundant near lakes and ponds. As a cavity nester, its natural distribution is limited by abandoned woodpecker holes and decaying trees. However, it commonly uses a variety of nest boxes and is often a welcomed beneficiary of boxes placed out for other species.

Atlas Habitat Survey data indicate that the Tree Swallow is numerous in several habitats, including open water, old field, residential-roadside-hedgerow, and pasture. Aquatic insects, such as immature stages of stoneflies and various Diptera, constitute a significant part of its diet. In old field and pasture habitats, however, the birds are often far removed from water, reflecting their dependence on nest cavities and nest boxes and attesting to their ability to forage successfully in all types of open areas.

Habitat: Breeding: Farmlands, river bottomlands, beaver ponds, wooded swamps or marshes with dead standing trees near water. Competition for suitable natural cavities in the Northeast has resulted in the heavy use of nest boxes. Wintering: Tidewater areas with bayberries.

Special Habitat Requirements: Cavity for nesting. Open feeding areas such as meadows, marshes, or water. The minimum dbh of suitable nest trees is 10 inches.

Habitat: Open country near water, marshes, meadows, lakes. May breed in any kind of open or semi-open area that provides both nesting sites and a good supply of flying insects. Typically breeds close to water, as around ponds or marshes, but also nests away from water around meadows or brushy areas.

Diet: Mostly insects, some berries. Diet is mostly insects, especially in summer. Feeds on many flies, beetles, winged ants, and others. Also eats some spiders, and will eat sand fleas (which are crustaceans). Unlike our other swallows, eats much vegetable material (up to 20% of annual diet, mostly eaten in winter). Bayberries are main plant food, also eats other berries and seeds. Forages mostly in flight, often low over water or fields.

Nest: Natural nest sites are in holes in dead trees or in old sapsucker holes in living trees; also very frequently uses nest boxes. Sometimes in odd sites such as holes in buildings, old Cliff Swallow nests, or holes in ground. Nest is cup of grass, weeds, rootlets, moss, pine needles, other plant materials. Usually lined with many feathers (from other kinds of birds), mostly added after first eggs are laid.