Violet-green Swallow x Cliff Swallow hybrid, Port Susan Bay, Snohomish County (Washington, USA), July 2010 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo ID: 1498)
The green colour in the wing-coverts (or are they not scapulars, Steve?) is pretty clear when you look closely at the top image here, and Steve notes other Violet-green Swallow features including the small white dash over the eye and the short forked tail. Cliff Swallow is evidenced by the orange-toned rump and collar. The back has a mixture of green and blue feathers.
Violet-green Swallow x Cliff Swallow hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1498 above), Port Susan Bay, Snohomish County (Washington, USA), July 2010 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo IDs: 1495-1497)
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Tree Swallow x Violet-green Swallow hybrid, Port Susan Bay, Snohomish County (Washington, USA), 1st August 2010 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo ID: 1494)
This hybrid has not been reported before although a mixed pair once attempted to nest in Illinois. The lack of reports probably has more to do with how difficult they are to detect than their actual rarity but Steve did really well to pick this one out. He describes the intermediate rump pattern, the Violet-green like markings on the face that is dark with a masked effect like Tree Swallow and dark along the flanks like on Tree Swallow. Its tail is shorter than on Tree Swallow (central rectrices barely extending past the upper tail coverts
in flight) and no Tree Swallow should
show this much white on uppertail coverts. Pointing away from aberrant Violet-green Swallow are the dusky flanks, limited white on its face and the odd rump patch shape.
Tree Swallow x Violet-green Swallow hybrid (same bird as in phot ID 1494 above), Port Susan Bay, Snohomish County (Washington, USA), 1st August 2010 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo ID: 1492-1493)
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
