Birds of Oregon and Washington 105 



This member of the family is not nearly so 

 numerous on this coast as the Violet -green or 

 the Cliff Swallow ; but it is common enough 

 about our sloughs to be easily identified. 



No detailed description of the bird is pos- 

 sible or needed, as it has just the two colors 

 given in the "General Description." Indeed, 

 its scientific name has in it the word " bi-col- 

 or." The female is a little duller in color than 

 the male. 



Like other Swallows, it is found, when nest- 

 ing, near its home ; but before and after, it cov- 

 ers the open country in its rapid flight, search- 

 ing for insects. 



A summer resident. The first of the Swal- 

 lows to appear and the last to disappear in north- 

 ern latitudes in the East. Here, it is reported 

 to be the first to leave. 



Sometimes when insect food is scarce, this 

 bird eats bayberries ; but it is the only Swallow 

 that ever eats anything but insects. 



This is the only one of the family, too, that 

 spends the winter in the United States the 

 others wintering in South America. 



