Purple Martin

Progne subis

Appearance:

Very large, broad-chested swallows
Slightly hooked bills
Short, forked tails
Long, tapered wings
Adult male:
    Black with glossy blue-purple sheen
    Brown-black wings and tail
Female and immature:
    Dark on top with variable amounts of gray on the head and chest
    Grayish-white underparts

Listen to its call.

When I took a stroll on the docks at the Oak Bay Marina last weekend, there were Purple Martins all around the nesting boxes installed there as part of the B.C. Purple Martin Recovery Program. Unfortunately, when I returned with my camera just a few days later,  only one fellow made an appearance. I'm not sure if the others had departed already or if it was simply the wind keeping them inside. 
 
Learn more about the Purple Martin.

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

Appearance:

Dark upperparts   

    Adults: Glossy blue

       (females duller than males)

    Juveniles: Dusky brown

Dark cap down to level of eye

Clean white underparts

Juveniles have gray breast band

Forked tail

Tiny bill

Listen to its call.

I seem to have gotten into a rut lately, always looking for new birds in the same old places. So, I decided to switch things up a bit this morning and try my luck at Rithet's Bog. Not having had much success there in the past, I was surprised at the hubbub when we arrived. There was a plethora of birds, more than I had seen in one place in a long time. Swallows were in abundance, included the ones in these photos. 

Juveniles

These young birds may lack the striking iridescent blue of the adults that have swiftly flown by me on previous occasions, but they are certainly much more cooperative as models.

 

Learn more about the Tree Swallow.

Cliff Swallow

Petrocheidon pyrrhonota

Appearance:
Chestnut face and throat
Whitish forehead
Dark cap, back and tail
Buff-coloured rump and nape
White belly and chest
Short, square-tipped tail
Tiny bill

Listen to its call.

I saw this bird hanging out with a flock of barn swallows at Panama Flats yesterday. There don't seem to be any cliffs in the area but there's definitely a lot of mud around for these birds to use for building nests. Apparently, they gather mud from the flood plains and carry it back to their nests in their bills.

Learn more about the Cliff Swallow.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Appearance:
Small, stocky swallow
Dull brown head and upperparts
Pale brown throat and breast
White belly
Long, pointed wings
White undertail coverts
Small bill

Listen to its call.

At the end of Gladiola Avenue, there is a short path that takes you to the south end of Panama Flats. Three of these birds were perched in a tree along that path when I visited the area earlier this week. I originally thought they were young Tree Swallows but later discovered that it is too early in the year to be seeing juvenile swallows. Although there were a lot of swallows flying over the flooded land, I didn't see any more of this type.

Named for the tiny hooks found on the outer feathers of the wings, the Greek/Latin name of this bird literally means 'scraper wing saw feather'. It reminds me of something out of one of Dave Pilkey's books (for those of you who have children of the Captain Underpants' era).


Learn more about the Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Appearance:

Steel blue upper parts

Long, forked tail with white spots

Dark orange forehead and throat

Pale orange underparts

Tiny bill

Listen to its call.

Having had difficulty photographing swallows in the past, I was delighted to find a group of these birds sitting on the ground at Panana Flats this afternoon. 

Unfortunately, it wasn't until I had walked all around the area trying to get photos of them in the air that I noticed these ones.  Luckily, they don't flit around as much as some of the other types of swallows I've seen, so it wasn't a complete loss.

Learn more about the Barn Swallow.

Additional photos:

Juvenile



nestlings

Violet-Green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

Appearance:

• Small songbird
• Coppery-green upperparts
• White underparts
• White throat, extending to side of head and above eyes
• Violet rump with white patches on side
• Forked tail  
• Small bill
• Long wings

Listen to its call.

I've seen lots of these birds around lately, both at Blenkinsop Lake and behind the Red Barn Market on West Saanich Road. There were large flocks of them flying over the water at both locations, foraging for insects. As this is their main diet and they catch their prey in midair, these birds' flight patterns are both erratic and acrobatic with rapid changes of directions. Talk about your moving target! I've taken shot after shot of them with very little to show for my efforts. I will continue in my quest for a decent shot, so be sure to keep an eye on my updated photos.

Learn more about the Violet-green Swallow.











Additional photos:

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

 male

Appearance:

Small hummingbird

Long, straight, slender bill

Male:

    Rufous-brown overall 

    Iridescent orange-red throat
    White breast

    Green shoulders

Females:
    Green upperparts

    Rufous-washed flanks

    Rufous at base of tail
    White underparts
    White throat with red central spot

Listen to its call.

female

Last week I heard that these birds were just starting to return to Victoria, having migrated up the coast after wintering in Mexico. So, I wasn't surprised when I saw my first one on Sunday. I was however a little surprised to see half a dozen of them in close succession. They seemed to be everywhere, flitting around enjoying the spring blossoms.

Learn more about the Rufous Hummingbird.

Additional photos:

Anna's Hummingbird

Calypte anna

Appearance:
Medium-sized hummingbird
Straight, slender bill
Iridescent bronzy green back
Green flanks
Pale grey chest and belly
Dark tail
Male:
Red crown and throat
Female:
Green crown
Some red spots on throat

Listen to its call.

I've always thought of hummingbirds as being in constant motion. These tiny birds never seem to stop hovering, even when taking a drink from a feeder ... or so I thought.  It wasn't until recently that I've noticed them perched in trees, chirping away. At first I thought this was a way for them to conserve energy in the winter months only. (Imagine the amount of energy require to flap those wings 40 or 50 times per second!) However, I've since read that hummingbirds spend about 85-90% of their time sitting, digesting their food. 


In this picture, the crown and gorget look black. Apparently, when the mood suits it, this bird is able to 'turn on' its red coloring by aiming a beam of light from its iridescent feathers.

Learn more about the Anna's Hummingbird.




Additional photos:

immature female