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By Jim Bywaters
Rappahannock News Writer
To the average backyard bird watcher, there are some birds that look too similar to tell apart. One of those confusing look a-like birds is the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). It is often confused with the sought-after Eastern Bluebird.
Because Bluebirds lack the ability to chisel out their own nest cavity, man-made nest boxes can be substituted to compensate for the short supply of these natural cavities. The Bluebird is a highly prized bird that many people spend years trying to attract to their yard with a wooden nest box.
Then one day they look out to see a wonderfully blue colored bird hanging around the nest box and mistakenly think it is an Eastern Bluebird. It turns out that the new blue bird is not a Bluebird at all but in fact a Tree Swallow. After the initial disappointment wears off, most people come to love and adore the terrific Tree Swallow.
The Tree Swallow is small, only five to six inches long. It has a shimmering blue head and back, which is why it is so often confused with the Bluebird. In direct sunlight the vivid blue color appears to change in intensity. It has black wings and a snowy white throat and chest. <.
It is usually a wooden nest box put up for Bluebirds that attracts the Tree Swallow. Reducing tree swallow competition is accomplished by pairing boxes within 25 feet of each other and then spacing the next group 100 yards away.
Pairing of boxes allows a breeding pair of tree swallows to use one box and leaves one available for bluebirds. Once established, tree swallows will fight off any other swallows that move into the area.
Tree Swallows are also cavity nesters that cannot make
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