Bahama Swallow

Taxobox
name = Bahama Swallow
status = VU
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Hirundinidae
genus = "Tachycineta"
species = "T. cyaneoviridis"
binomial = "Tachycineta cyaneoviridis "
binomial_authority = (Bryant, 1859, Nassau, New Providence, Bahama Islands)

The Bahama Swallow ("Tachycineta cyaneoviridis") is a swallow endemic to the Bahamas.

Physical description

This glossy "Tachycineta" swallow has a green head and back, blue upper wings, a black tail and wingtips, and a white belly and chin.

Range and habitat

This swallow is found in eastern Cuba and throughout the Bahamas, but only breeds in pine forests on four islands in the northern Bahamas; Andros, Grand Bahama, Abaco, and New Providence.Allen, P (1996): Breeding biology and natural history of the Bahama Swallow "Wilson bulletin" 108(3);480-495 [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/DJVU/v108n03/P0480-P0495.djvu DjVu fulltext] [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v108n03/p0480-p0495.pdf PDF fulltext] ] It disperses to the southeastern USA out of breeding season, i.e. throughout the summer months. It is also an occasional vagrant to the southerly Americas. [Strewe, R., (2006): Primer registro de la Golondrina de Bahamas "Tachycineta cyaneoviridis" para Suramérica. ["First record of the Bahama Swallow "T. cyaneoviridis" for South America"] . "Boletín de la Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitología" 16(1): 54-58. [Spanish with English abstract] [http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/07StreweTachycineta.pdf PDF fulltext] ]

"T. cyaneoviridis" is primarily a bird of dry forest. They are somewhat capable of adapting to urban habitat. Although they do not breed in marshland and fields, they need such habitat to forage; like all swallows they feed on flying insects.

Reproduction

Bahama Swallows nest in old woodpecker holes in Caribbean pines (Pinus caribaea), using pine needles, she-oak twigs, and grass to make the nest, and they line it with feathers from other passerines. They typically have three eggs. Incubation is 15 days and the fledging period is roughly 22 days.

References

*|year=2004|id=21282|title=Tachycineta cyaneoviridis|downloaded=17 September 2007