Coastal Carolina

Hirundo rustica HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6 inches * Tiny bill * Dark orange forehead and throat * Pale orange underparts * Dark, iridiscent upperparts * Long, deeply forked tail * Juvenile similar to adult but paler underneath with a shorter tail * Most often seen flying * Will nest communally in mud nests under bridges, in barns and caves, etc Similar species: The Barn Swallow can be told from all swallows by its deeply forked tail.

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Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Hirundo pyrrhonota) HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5 inches * Tiny bill * Pale orange rump and forehead (dark in some southwestern birds) * Blackish cap, throat and upperparts * Side of neck brown * Tip of tail squared * Juveniles similar to adults but duller * Most often seen flying * Will nest communally in mud nests under bridges, in barns and caves, etc Similar species: The Cliff Swallow can be told from all swallows except the Cave Swallow by its pale rump. Cave Swallow has a darker forehead and a paler throat than the Cliff Swallow. When viewed from below, the Cliff Swallow can be told from other swallows by its squared tail and dark throat.

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Stelgidopteryx serripennis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4.75 inches * Tiny bill * Warm brown upperparts * White underparts with dusky throat and breast * Forked tail * Most often seen flying * Nests in holes (burrows, crevices) near water Similar species: The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is similar to Bank and immature Tree Swallow but has warmer brown upperparts and a dusky throat and breast. It lacks the breast band of the Bank Swallow and is larger.

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Progne subis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7 inches * Tiny bill * Largest swallow * Most often seen flying * Will nest communally at martin houses in residential and agricultural areas Adult male: * Dark purple plumage, usually appears black * Forked tail * Immature males similar to female but may be splotched with dark purple Adult female: * Dark gray upperparts with some purple coloration * Whitish underparts with gray breast band and throat with some speckling on sides and belly * Forked tail * Immature plumages similar to female Similar species: The male Purple Martin is easily told from other swallows by its entirely dark plumage. It is vaguely similar to the starling but has a smaller bill, longer wings and a darker plumage. Female Purple Martins are similar to Bank and Northern Rough-winged Swallows but are larger, and flap more slowly. At close range, the darker upperparts of the martin are evident.

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Tachycineta bicolor HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5 inches * Tiny bill * Iridiscent blue-green upperparts * White underparts * Forked tail * Female duller than male * Juvenile dull brown above and may have hint of a gray breast band * Most often seen flying * Nests in cavities near water * Often found in large flocks Similar species: The Tree Swallow is most similar to the Violet-green Swallow. The Violet-green Swallow has white patches that extend further onto the sides of the rump, a white area that extends behind and over the eye and greener upperparts. Bank and Northern Rough-winged Swallows look similar, especially in Fall. Bank Swallow is smaller, this feature is especially noticeable as mixed flocks of swallows often sit on telephone wires. Bank has a dark breast band that is lacking or indistinct in the Tree. From above, Bank Swallow has a paler rump that contrasts with the darker back and tail where the Tree Swallow is uniformly-colored. Northern Rough-winged Swallow has a dusky throat and warmer brown upperparts than the Tree Swallow. Swallows often call in flight and these calls are excellent clues to identification.

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