Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Swallow ID/Confirmation

Started by Carolina, Apr 12 2012 02:26 AM

  • Please log in to reply
10 replies to this topic

#1 Carolina

Carolina

    Advanced Member

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 502 posts
  • LocationCoastal Beaufort SC

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:26 AM

These sets of photos were taken on two different days at two different places. There was a large grouping of swallows circling in the air on both days. Not the greatest shots but hope someone can help make an ID.

These first two were taken on Sunday over a creek off the Beaufort River.

My guess at an ID is Tree Swallow at least in this first one.
1.
Posted Image
2.
Posted Image

These next three were taken yesterday near a farm & right over a boat landing on Coosaw River. This was a larger group than the one on Sunday. I am thinking these may be Tree Swallow also.
3.
Posted Image
4.
Posted Image
5.
Posted Image

Life list total~165

One seen but no photo...YET! (Chuck-will’s-widow ) & One heard only (Eastern Screech-Owl)
Yard list ~ 61

Work list ~ 105 (Office with a view)

Many Many Many Thanks to all here at Whatbird for your help extraordinaire...

#2 Liam

Liam

    Birder#2

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 16445 posts
  • LocationHephzibah, GA

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:29 AM

All seem to be Tree Swallows based on tail shape and/or glorious blue coloration.
Posted Image Liam
Flickr | Blog
eBird needs your sightings!



#3 johnd

johnd

    johnd

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 349 posts

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:29 AM

3 and 4 are barn swallows, i think.
I could be wrong.

#4 BarnSwallow

BarnSwallow

    Advanced Member

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4487 posts
  • LocationMonkton Maryland

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:31 AM

I agree with tree swallow for all. Barn swallows have a much longer tail and have a salmon colored breast - not the clean white of tree swallow.

#5 ceylon

ceylon

    ceylon

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 347 posts
  • LocationVancouver, British Columbia

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:38 AM

How do you differentiate a Tree from a Violet Green in flight?
My "best" lifers; Golden Eagle and Crested Mynah.

New birds 2013; Red Flanked Bluetail (Queen's Park, New Westminster Jan 15, 2013), Gyrfalcon (Hastings Park/Viterra building near Second Narrows, Jan 26, 2013), Brambling (Laurel/17th Feb 5th/2013), Red-naped Sapsucker (west side of Fraserview golf course, in lane by 7878 Vivian, Apr 5/2013). Sora (pond at Colony Farm April 8/13).



New birds 2012; Black throated gray warbler, Cassin's vireo, (Hammond's Flycatcher,Chipping Sparrow were id'd at bird banding station), Vaux Swift, Cliff Swallow, Dowitcher, Merlin, Peregrine, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, YHBB, Caspian Tern, Purple Martin, Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager.

#6 BarnSwallow

BarnSwallow

    Advanced Member

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4487 posts
  • LocationMonkton Maryland

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:56 AM

The violet green has much more extensive white up onto the cheeks and on the sides of the rump.

#7 ceylon

ceylon

    ceylon

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 347 posts
  • LocationVancouver, British Columbia

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:58 AM

Thank you BarnSwallow.
My "best" lifers; Golden Eagle and Crested Mynah.

New birds 2013; Red Flanked Bluetail (Queen's Park, New Westminster Jan 15, 2013), Gyrfalcon (Hastings Park/Viterra building near Second Narrows, Jan 26, 2013), Brambling (Laurel/17th Feb 5th/2013), Red-naped Sapsucker (west side of Fraserview golf course, in lane by 7878 Vivian, Apr 5/2013). Sora (pond at Colony Farm April 8/13).



New birds 2012; Black throated gray warbler, Cassin's vireo, (Hammond's Flycatcher,Chipping Sparrow were id'd at bird banding station), Vaux Swift, Cliff Swallow, Dowitcher, Merlin, Peregrine, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, YHBB, Caspian Tern, Purple Martin, Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager.

#8 cabirds

cabirds

    cabirds

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1012 posts
  • LocationSacramento, CA, USA

Posted 12 April 2012 - 02:59 AM

With difficulty. ;) At least for me.

But those are very much Tree Swallows from what I can see. The ones with the brilliant Sapphire Blue backs are tough to mistake. The violet-green are much darker. The white on the flanks doesn't reach up to the rump on the Tree Swallow. Those are the two markers I can see in these photos. Maybe the white eyeline not reaching up far enough on some of those too, it doesn't rise above the bottom of the eye for the Tree Swallow.

Barn Swallow are very different, John - here's two photos, tree and barn, for comparison.

Tree Swallow:
Posted Image

Barn Swallow:
Posted Image
--- Jodie in Sacramento

Visit my Photo Gallery of California Birds at: Temporarily Unavailable

#9 ceylon

ceylon

    ceylon

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 347 posts
  • LocationVancouver, British Columbia

Posted 12 April 2012 - 03:02 AM

Thank you Jodie.
My "best" lifers; Golden Eagle and Crested Mynah.

New birds 2013; Red Flanked Bluetail (Queen's Park, New Westminster Jan 15, 2013), Gyrfalcon (Hastings Park/Viterra building near Second Narrows, Jan 26, 2013), Brambling (Laurel/17th Feb 5th/2013), Red-naped Sapsucker (west side of Fraserview golf course, in lane by 7878 Vivian, Apr 5/2013). Sora (pond at Colony Farm April 8/13).



New birds 2012; Black throated gray warbler, Cassin's vireo, (Hammond's Flycatcher,Chipping Sparrow were id'd at bird banding station), Vaux Swift, Cliff Swallow, Dowitcher, Merlin, Peregrine, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, YHBB, Caspian Tern, Purple Martin, Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager.

#10 johnd

johnd

    johnd

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 349 posts

Posted 12 April 2012 - 03:09 AM

I saw the yellowish/gold belly on pics #3 and 4. and thought barn swallow.
may just be be the lighting in the photo.

#11 Carolina

Carolina

    Advanced Member

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 502 posts
  • LocationCoastal Beaufort SC

Posted 12 April 2012 - 04:17 AM

I saw the yellowish/gold belly on pics #3 and 4. and thought barn swallow.
may just be be the lighting in the photo.


Was really hoping for some Barn Swallows so I wish that you were right but it is definitely the lighting. Had the camera on the wrong setting completely for the first two shots. The other three were taken at sunset so that is where the golden tone is coming from...that is my story & I am sticking with it.

Someday in the far & distant future my photos will come somewhere remotely near to the lovely shots photo'd by cabirds...if you squint your eyes & look slightly off to the left.

Thanks to Liam & everyone for the confirmation. It is a lifer.

Life list total~165

One seen but no photo...YET! (Chuck-will’s-widow ) & One heard only (Eastern Screech-Owl)
Yard list ~ 61

Work list ~ 105 (Office with a view)

Many Many Many Thanks to all here at Whatbird for your help extraordinaire...

Back to Help Me Identify a Bird


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

  1. Whatbird Community Board
  2. → Birding
  3. → Help Me Identify a Bird
  4. Privacy Policy