Swallow Family

Whether you are looking out over a river, a wetland, a residential lawn, or a parking lot, it is not hard to see swallows on any summer day. These graceful fliers spend much of their time on the wing, speeding through the air as they catch flying insects. They even drink and bathe while flying.

... by John Rakestraw

To get a good look at a swallow sitting still, check the utility wires. In late summer and autumn, as swallows prepare to return to their wintering grounds in South America, they often congregate in flocks of 100 or more, all lined up on the power lines.

Six species of swallows are seen regularly in the Portland area. Three of these are cavity nesters and will frequently use nest boxes. Two others construct nests of mud, while one nests in burrows.

Tree Swallow: Male Tree Swallows are a dark metallic blue on the upperparts and pristine white underneath. Females often show a more subdued brownish gray on the upperparts. Tree Swallows are most often found near water and open fields, where they nest in tree cavities or nest boxes.

Violet-green Swallow: Slightly smaller than Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows show a green back and purple rump. The white underparts extend up onto the face and onto the sides of the rump, making it look like the bird is wearing white saddlebags in flight. Violet-greens also nest in cavities and nest boxes, and are more likely to nest in suburban yards.

Barn Swallow: Barn Swallows are instantly recognizable by their long slender wings and long forked tails. They show a dark metallic blue on the upperparts and orange underparts. Barn Swallow nests are an open cup made of mud and are usually attached to barn rafters or under the eaves of buildings.

Cliff Swallow: Cliff Swallows are most easily identified on the wing. They have short squared tails, orange faces, and bluish backs. The most obvious field mark is their buffy rump, visible at great distances. The mud nests of Cliff Swallows are enclosed and jug shaped, unlike the open cups of Barn Swallows. Cliff Swallow nests are found in colonies on cliffs, under bridges, and in culverts.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow: The plainest of our swallows is the Northern Rough-winged. They are dull brown above, while the color of their underparts is dingy brown on the face fading to white on the belly. Northern Rough-winged Swallows are more often seen along rivers, where they nest in tunnels dug into high banks.

Purple Martin: The largest, and least common, swallow in our area is the Purple Martin. Males are uniformly bluish-black, while females show dingy gray underparts. The size and coloring of these birds suggests European Starlings, but Purple Martins stand out by their longer wings and tails and by their strong flight while feeding. Martins nest in colonies, either in tree cavities or in nest boxes.

Swallows define spring and summer, from the first few Tree Swallows arriving in April to the large flocks of Barn and Cliff Swallows retreating to the south with the first cold fronts of autumn. Their bold coloring, aerobatic skills, and appetite for flying insects make the swallows a welcomed part of summer.