Bahama Swallow
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| Bahama Swallow | ||||||||||||||
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| Tachycineta cyaneoviridis (Bryant, 1859, Nassau, New Providence, Bahama Islands) |
The Bahama Swallow (Tachycineta cyaneoviridis) is a swallow native to the Bahamas.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.[1] 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. [2]
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.
[edit] 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.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Allen, P (1996): Breeding biology and natural history of the Bahama Swallow Wilson bulletin 108(3);480-495 DjVu fulltext PDF fulltext
- ^ 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] PDF fulltext
- BirdLife International (2004). Tachycineta cyaneoviridis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 17 September 2007.
