Tree Swallow female

Late yesterday afternoon, I just needed to get out for a short while and so drove my usual short route SW of the city. As so often happens when I go in that direction, even though the weather forecast was good, the dark clouds blew in and the light became too poor to take photos. A few photos did come out OK, including this one of a female Tree Swallow, but after a few photos of the usual birds - Mountain Bluebirds, Snipe and Tree Swallow, I left for home.

"Handsome aerialists with deep-blue iridescent backs and clean white fronts, Tree Swallows are a familiar sight in summer fields and wetlands across northern North America. They chase after flying insects with acrobatic twists and turns, their steely blue-green feathers flashing in the sunlight. Tree Swallows nest in tree cavities; they also readily take up residence in nest boxes. This habit has allowed scientists to study their breeding biology in detail, and makes them a great addition to many a homeowner’s yard or field." From AllABoutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/id