Tree Swallow

1/1600s at f11.0, ISO:1600, Canon EOS-1D X w/800mm, x 1.4 converter


The Tree Swallow is a migratory bird that breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Tree Swallows nest in natural or artificial cavities near water and are often found in large flocks. They readily use nest boxes, including those built for bluebirds. The female lays 4 to 7 white eggs and incubates them by herself. The eggs hatch in about 14 days and the hatchlings are altricial. The hatchlings typically fledge in 16–24 days. While there are young or eggs in the nest, adults frequently dive bomb intruders (including curious humans) and attempt to drive them from the area. They subsist primarily on a diet of insects, sometimes supplemented with small quantities of fruit. They are excellent fliers and take off from their perch and acrobatically catch insects in their bills in mid-air.
Medicine Creek, NE
 
05/20/2014