View range map of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

This common bird of the south central United States is unmistakable with its extremely long forked tail and salmon pink plumage. Often seen perched on utility wires and fence posts throughout the summer months, this beautiful bird swoops in graceful arcs to catch insects in flight. While both the male and female Scissor-tailed Flycatcher has a long forked tail, the male's is usually much longer. The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher forms into huge flocks in late summer, sometimes numbering a thousand birds. They roost together before beginning their fall migration. Most will winter in southern Mexico and Central America, though some will winter in southern Florida and south Texas. The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher feeds on insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets and beetles. Prey is captured by aerial hawking, and sometimes by gleaning from vegetation. This species will forage in any open habitat where there are sufficient perches. This species is socially monogamous. The female does most of the nest construction, forming an open cup of plant stems in a shrub or tree. Many types of open habitat are used, including savannahs, agricultural lands, suburbs, parks, gardens and golf courses. The female lays five speckled eggs which she incubates alone for 14 days. The chicks are altricial (naked and helpless) and she will brood them and feed them. The male will help with feeding and nest sanitation. The chicks fledge after about 15 days. This species is secure and presents no conservation concerns, but may suffer from loss of nesting habitat. Large scale nesting failures can occur locally due to inclement weather. Severe storms and tornadoes may destroy large numbers of nests.

View range map of Red-eyed Vireo

The Red-eyed Vireo is a neo-tropical migrant songbird, commonly heard in deciduous woodlands of the eastern United States and Canada. A nocturnal, long distance migrant; the Red-eyed Vireo travels in large mixed flocks to the wintering grounds in the Amazon region of South America. The Red-eyed Vireo has olive plumage with a blue/ grey crown, and a conspicuous white eyebrow. About 6 inches in length, this small bird spends most of its time high in the tree tops and is rarely seen. On the breeding grounds, Red-eyed Vireos eat insects, snails and spiders which they glean from foliage. On migration and at the wintering grounds the birds switch to eating entirely fruit. Males arrive at the breeding grounds and select and defend a territory. The female selects the nest site and builds the nest of fine grasses in the fork of a branch. The female incubates the 4-5 eggs for about 12 days. Both parents feed the chicks insects until they fledge after about 11 days. Red-eyed Vireos are frequent hosts for parasitic cowbirds, which lay their eggs in the Vireos nest, often destroying the Vireo eggs or causing nest failure. Sometimes the Red-eyed Vireos will abandon a nesting attempt if the nest has been parasitized, otherwise they will rarely raise more than one Vireo chick with the cowbird young. Nesting success is reduced by more than 60% in parasitized nests. Red-eyed Vireos and other neo-tropical migrants are at risk from collision with tall buildings and communications towers during migration. Millions of migrant birds die annually when they collide with antennas, buildings and other structures. Turn of lights and cover windows during migration to save lives. Learn more at American Bird Conservancy. Red-eyed Vireos are also threatened by habitat loss and disturbance at both the wintering and breeding grounds.

 

View range map of Tree Swallow

The Tree Swallow is a common, small (5.5"), iridescent blue/green swallow of marshes, meadows and other wooded wetland habitats. Tree Swallows breed across central and northern North America, and winter along the east coast of the United States, and in Florida, and along the Gulf Coast, south to Central and South America. The birds are diurnal migrants and are known to form large migratory flocks which roost together on route. This species is less dependent on insects than many other swallows. Tree Swallows are highly adept acrobatic flyers who hunt on the wing. Insects make up the bulk of the birds' diet; however Tree Swallows may also feed heavily on berries and fruits, particularly during winter. Tree Swallows forage for these foods on the ground or glean directly from foliage. Pairs form on arrival at the breeding grounds. The males arrive first and acquire a territory centered around a nest site. The nest is located in a tree cavity, usually a woodpecker hole, and is lined with soft grasses. The female lines the nest, sometimes she adds feathers delivered to her by the male. The female lays 4-6 white eggs and incubates them for about 13 days. Both parents feed the nestlings which fledge at about 20 days of age. Availability of suitable nesting trees is a limiting factor for this species. Changes in forestry practices which result in the removal of dead or dying trees have reduced potential nest sites for Tree Swallows. Competition with other cavity nesting species such as European Starlings and House Sparrows causes local declines in numbers of Tree Swallows. This species is susceptible to pesticide pollution and as such is considered an indicator species for habitat quality. Tree Swallows will use nest boxes were provided. Deforestation of the wintering grounds in Central and South America are also a threat to this species.

View range map of Barn Swallow

The Barn Swallow is the most abundant and widely distributed swallow in the world. Once a cave breeding species, this familiar occupant of barns and other buildings, now nests exclusively on man-made structures. The long forked tail of the barn swallow is an indication of quality. The female will choose a mate with the longest and most symmetrical tail. The Barn Swallow is found throughout the United States and Canada during the summer, it winters in southern Mexico and Central America. The Barn Swallow captures insects by aerial hawking, hunting closer to the ground than many other swallow species. It will hunt in any open habitat, such as agricultural fields, parks and suburban areas, where there are buildings for nesting. This species commonly associates with livestock, which flush insects. It also hunts over water. The Barn Swallow is a colonial nester. The birds select a nest site immediately upon arrival at the nesting grounds, often returning to the same colony each year. Old nests are reused, if they do not contain parasites. The nest is constructed from mud, either under an overhang or attached to a wall. The female does most of the construction, collecting mud and grasses. If an old nest is used new material is added. The female lays 3-7 white/ pinkish glossy eggs. Both birds incubate the eggs for 13-17 days, but the female spends more time on the nest than the male, and she always incubates over night. The chicks are fed by both parents, and fledge after about 20 days. The parents may continue to feed the chicks for up to a week after fledging. Helpers at the nest are common in this species. These are unmated birds, often yearlings or young from a previous brood, that may help feed the chicks, sometimes for an entire breeding season. The Barn Swallow has benefitted greatly from European settlement of North America, and is probably more numerous than previously. This species was hunted for the millinery trade during 1800s, and it was this species which prompted George Bird Grinnell’s 1886 editorial in Forest and Stream that led to the founding of the first Audubon Society, and the development of the conservation movement in the United States.