There are a variety of swallow species common to Prescott, and springtime is a great time to see them. This past week, I have observed five different swallow species at Watson Lake: barn, northern rough-winged, cliff, tree, and violet green.
The foraging behavior for swallows is referred to as “aerial gleaning,” meaning they capture insects in sustained, continuous flight. In flight, swallows dip, dive, twist, and turn—from one second to the next—adjusting their flight to catch the next insect in sight.
Watching swallows through binoculars is almost a dizzying experience as their flight is so erratic. Sometimes you will see them high up in the air foraging for insects, and other times they will be skimming just above the surface of the water.
Swallows spend most of their waking hours in flight. If they aren’t flying, they aren’t feeding. Since they are typically observed in flight, it is helpful to learn key features to help identify them in flight. Here are some things to look for:
Barn swallows – Top side is a deep, dark blue color; underside is a rich brown color. Their most distinctive feature is their long, forked tail.
Northern rough-winged swallows – Top side is a uniform, dull brown color; underside is a dull, off-white color.
Cliff swallows – Crown of head and back is a deep blue color. The forehead, nape (back of head), and rump are buffy-orange, while the throat is a deep chestnut color.
Tree swallows – Top side is a bright (in good light) iridescent blue-green; the throat, breast and belly is pure white.
Violet-green swallows – Head and back are a beautiful green color, while rump is purple. Face, throat and belly are white. In flight, displays prominent white “saddlebag” patches on both sides of the rump area.
One additional swallow species occurs less frequently in the Prescott area—bank swallow. It doesn’t breed in this area, just passing through in the spring on its way north, and again in the fall on its way south. It is similar in appearance to the northern rough-winged swallow, except bank swallows have a dark chest band.
I continue to walk the Peavine Trail several times a week—for exercise, to monitor the level of the lake, and to check on bald eagle activity. In the past week, I have only seen one bald eagle one time, indicating they did not nest successfully in the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve.
There has been a lot of migratory bird activity this past week. One day I saw an osprey, a black-necked stilt and a green heron. In addition to seeing several ring-billed gulls at Willow Lake, I also saw a lone Bonaparte’s gull, which was a pleasant surprise. There has also been a report of American white pelicans at Willow Lake this week.
Recently, a customer came into the store asking for the bird expert. The customer was referred to me, and she shared with me that she had a bird in her yard that she could not identify. Fortunately, she had gotten pictures of it with her cell phone, making it easy to identify her mystery bird—a varied thrush.
Varied thrushes are typically found in the Pacific Northwest, so this bird is way off course. How long it will stick around is anybody’s guess. With migration underway it is possible to see rare, accidental, and vagrant species this time of year. If you have a rare bird in your yard, give me a call. I would love to come out and see your rare find!
Until next week, Happy Birding!
Eric Moore is the owner of The Lookout, in Prescott, where you will find a Hallmark Gold Crown Store, wild bird products, and Vortex and Swarovski optics. Eric has been an avid birder for over 55 years. Eric can be contacted at eric@thelookoutaz.com.
