Violet-green Swallow Identification Guide

Key Field Marks

• Size & shape: A small, compact swallow with a short, slightly forked tail and pointed wings, typical of the swallow family.
• Upperparts: Iridescent green on the back and crown transitioning to violet-purple on the rump and uppertail coverts, visible in good light.
• Underparts and face: Clean white below, extending up onto the face and around the eye — the white on the face reaches above and behind the eye, unlike other swallows.
• In flight from above: White patches on the flanks extend up and nearly meet over the rump, forming a distinctive pale saddle visible when the bird banks overhead.
• Behavior: Fast, agile flight, often foraging high overhead in mixed flocks with other swallows and swifts; nests in tree cavities, cliff crevices, and nest boxes.

Separating Violet-green Swallow from Similar Species

• Tree Swallow: Shows a solid blue-green back without the violet rump, and importantly lacks white on the face — the white underparts stop cleanly at the eye rather than wrapping around and above it.
• In flight: The nearly-meeting white flank patches over the rump are diagnostic for Violet-green Swallow and not shown by Tree Swallow or other similar species.

Where & When to See One

Breeds across western North America, from Alaska and western Canada south through the western United States into Mexico, in open woodlands, canyons, cliffs, and increasingly in towns and cities using nest boxes. Winters primarily in Mexico and Central America. Look for it foraging in open airspace over canyons, forest clearings, and towns during the breeding season, often alongside other swallow species.

Voice

High-pitched chip and twittering notes given in flight and around nest sites, generally softer and less strident than some other swallow species.