are so agile and fly so fast that identification is of' ten very difficult. Tree and Violet-Green Swallows are very similar in color and pattern. Violet-Green's white underside wraps onto side of rump.

• Swallows Hirundinidael Sp. Built for aerial life with long, pointed but broader wings than similar swifts (p. 68). Except for the Tree Swal- low, which also eats berries, feed exclusively on flying .

Purple Martin 1rs subis L8" :Mixedchaparralandopen Í conifer slopes, ridges with isolated Douglas fir and open meadows nearby. Nests in trees, m old woodpecker holes.

Large and long-winged, generally forages higher up than other swallows, over any open habitat, preferring ridges. Mostly seen in pairs or small flocks of 4-5 . Keeps away from settled areas, unlike in the eastern states. The only breeding martins I observed in Napa occupied old woodpecker holes in a telephone pole near a farmhouse surrounded by open meadows and pine-covered ridges.

Tree irW, cS bicolor

L SÍÍ" Habitat An/open country, (ot- ages m large flocks over fields, meadows and water Nests singly in tree cavities and accepls nest boxes, even when fixed taatencepost

Very common in Napa. Small flocks are present throughout winter in tidal marshes. Breeds all over the county, concentrating in Napa Valley; avoids higher elevations. Easiiy attracted to nest boxes that are erected for swallows and bluebirds in many vineyards. Starts breeding mid Apr, Two females might lay in the same nest.

Violet-Green Swallow xW, cS Tachycineta thalassina

L SVi" Habitat' Mountain canyons and forests but avoids hard chaparral slopes andalsotidal marshes. Nests in tree cavi- ties and rock crevices but rarely in nest boxes Begins to breed in May

Similar to the . They often forage together over open areas, usually near water. Smaller than the Tree Swallow, flies with faster wingbeats, glides less. Usually in small groups, On tool rrrarnings, swallows of all frequently breeding in loose colonies when possible, unlike gather, lining up on power or telephone wires like the Tree Swallow, which is a solitary nester but pearls on a string. They sit a short distance from each other warming up' for the day, doing iheir forms large feeding flocks. Winters sporadically morning grooming in the Napa marshes.

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ClifFSwallow cS PetTochelidon pyrrhonota ISV-i Habitat Forages over open fields and ponds, Iron^ the north to the marshes, avoids densely vegetated upland. Nests an martmade structures, under bndges or house eaves.

A better name for them now might be cement swallow. Apparently they have abandoned their colonies on overhanging ciiff iedges and buiid their well-known gourd-shaped mud nests on manmade structures, often in very large, crowded colonies of up to 1,000 pairs. Highly migratory, first arrive mid-Mar.; by end Sep. all have gone.

Barn Swallow cS rustica

L6Í4" Habitat Open farmland Pnor to European settlement, they nested in open caves, under overhanging rocks but now as with the Cliff Sv^allow, only use manmade structures.

They were named in England, where they breed in stables and barns, as they do now m most parts of Morth America. Napa birds usually stay outside, building their cup-shaped mud nests under bridges or house eaves. A swallow's nest is still considered a lucky omen.

Northern fS Rough-winged Swallow serripennis

L 5'/;" Habitat: Forages near water in anyopen country. Usually nests solitarily in a burrow dug in steep sand or gravel bank, crevices m cliffs, walls or buildings, even far from water.

A widespread but not well known swallow. Has benefited from human activity for nesting sites lite most swallows. Perhaps more common now than formerly. Overall drab brown except for the striking white undertail coverts against the dark square tail. Juveniles have typically rusty bars in dark earth-brown wings.

Bank Swallow eS, xT riparia

L SVt" Probably still bred in Napa in 1930 but suitable no longer eiist. Acolonisl nester needing vertical sandbanks, naturaior artificial, in which to dig their long nest tunnels ad Seldom seen far from water eicept on migration. Our smallest swallow, with narrow, notched tail, darf underwings and a broad breast band on clean white breast. Since 1930 there have been 3 county records.

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