_Iridoprocne bicolor. Case 5, Fig. 24_
Silky white below and shining bluish green above;
young birds are mouse-colored above but below are
snowy white, unmarked, as in the adult. L. 6.
_Range._ Nests chiefly from southern New England
northward and winters from South Carolina to
Central America.
Washington, common T.V., Mch. 26-May 26; July
8-Oct. 14. Ossining, common T.V., Apl. 4-May 26;
Aug. 4-Oct. 16. Cambridge, S.R., formerly common,
now common only as a migrant, Apl. 5-Oct. 8. N.
Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 10-Sept. 20. Glen Ellyn,
not common T.V., rare S.R., Apl. 21-Sept. 8. SE.
Minn., common S.R., Mch. 30-Aug. 31.
We see comparatively few Tree Swallows during the spring, but from July
to October, as they journey slowly southward, they are the most abundant
members of their family. In countless thousands long ropes of Swallows
crowd the wayside wires from pole to pole. At night, with others of
their tribe, they roost in the marshes.
Tree Swallows they are called because they nest in hollow trees and,
like some other hole-nesting birds, they may be induced to occupy
nesting-boxes, making a welcome addition to our list of bird tenants.
The 4-7 white eggs are laid in May.