The Violet-green Swallow shimmers in the sun with an iridescent green back and purple rump. It makes its nest in tree cavities, nest boxes, or other artificial structures, often near water which attracts the flying insects that make up its diet.
Violet-green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina
Photo:
The State of Canada's Birds is presented in partnership by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada.
Violet-green Swallow
Status and Trends
Distribution
Methods
The State of Canada's Birds is presented in partnership by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada.
Did you know
Summary
Trend
Little Change
Confidence: Medium
Goal
Within Goal Range
The Violet-green Swallow is a common breeding bird in the montane regions of western North America; it winters in Mexico and Central America. There are approximately 1.3 million individuals in Canada, which represents 18% of the global population and a low degree of responsibility for Canada. Roughly 400,000 more individuals breed in Alaska and migrate through Canada, boosting the total occurring in Canada to 24% of the global total, a moderate proportion. The Canadian population of Violet-green Swallow has shown little change relative to 1970 based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Confidence in this assessment is medium because coverage has some limitations, although the trend has high precision. The national population of Violet-green Swallow is within its goal range.
Migration Strategy
Short-distance
Long-distance
Canadian Responsibility
Population Estimates
Breeding
1,300,000
Annual
1,700,000
Global
7,200,000
Related readings
Summary report
View the report
Trends from this species and others are rolled up into The State of Canada’s Birds Summary Report. Follow the link below to view the report, learn more about birds in Canada, and see how we can all help birds.
This species is included in the following analysis groups for the report:
Aerial Insectivores
Long-Distance Migrants
Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada. 2024. The State of Canada’s Birds – Violet-green Swallow. Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada.
https://doi.org/10.71842/rjs8-q771
The State of Canada's Birds is presented in partnership by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada.
Did you know
The Violet-green Swallow shimmers in the sun with an iridescent green back and purple rump. It makes its nest in tree cavities, nest boxes, or other artificial structures, often near water which attracts the flying insects that make up its diet.
Distribution and Occurrence
14150
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Related readings
Summary report
View the report
Trends from this species and others are rolled up into The State of Canada’s Birds Summary Report. Follow the link below to view the report, learn more about birds in Canada, and see how we can all help birds.
This species is included in the following analysis groups for the report:
Aerial Insectivores
Long-Distance Migrants
Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada. 2024. The State of Canada’s Birds – Violet-green Swallow. Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada.
https://doi.org/10.71842/rjs8-q771