Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Larks & Swallows
Casual
Tree Swallow, male - Irvine, CA
© Tom Benson
Tree Swallow, male - Marina del Rey, CA
© Tom Benson
The Tree Swallow is a casual visitor on campus with two records of spring migrants in April and two records of fall migrants in November. It is a common migrant and an uncommon breeding and wintering bird in southern California.
Adult Tree Swallows can be identified by their iridescent blue crown, face, and upperparts and white underparts. They are distinguished from the similar Violet-green Swallow by their dark face and rump. Juvenile Tree Swallows have brown upperparts and white underparts.