According to "All About Birds - The Cornell Lab of Ornithology", "Violet-green Swallows are graceful aerial acrobats that fly at various heights, often over water bodies, in search of flying insects. When not foraging Violet-green Swallows perch on wires or exposed tree branches. They are social songbirds and occur in groups with other swallows and swifts." I saw this Violet-green Swallow flying with other kinds of swallows above the waters of a Riparian Area along Springfield's Mill Race Path. I believe it is the first of this variety of swallows that I have been able to photograph. They are swift little things.


More information from "All About Birds" - "These aerial insectivores perform acrobatic stunts over lakes and streams high in the sky in search of flying insects. Violet-green Swallows can look dark at first, but their true colors come to life when sunlight illuminates their metallic green backs and iridescent purple rumps. They are a common sight in the West in spring and summer, but they vanish to Mexico and Central America for the winter. They can be distinguished from other swallows by the white patches on the sides of their rump and their white cheeks." - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-green_Swallow/id