Tree Swallow Perched on Dead Branch

A tree swallow, showing shiny blue top, grayish wings, and white breast, perched on a dead branch, with foliage of a tree behind, against a bright blue sky

Jun 6th, 2011, by Alex Zorach

This tree swallow perched briefly on this dead branch in the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge near Philadelphia. Tree swallows are highly distinctive and easy to identify: no other swallow in this area has the bright-turquoise-blue color above, a color which in this photograph matches the hue of the sky very closely. Note also the bright white breast, with no visible markings. Like all swallows, this bird shows a small bill and small feet, signs of this bird's lifestyle, adapted to spending most of its time swallowing insects while in flight.