300 
PASSERIFORMES 
breast-band. A glance at the colours of the backs will separate adults from the Violet- 
green, but young birds may be difficult to recognize except by direct comparison with 
specimens. The Tree Swallow is a little larger, and the brown of the back is a little browner 
and less greyish. 
Field Marks. A contrastive black and white swallow. Likely to be confused only 
with the Violet-green Swallow of British Columbia. It has two very distinct and easily 
recognizable field distinctions. The face and cheeks are black, not strikingly white, and in 
flight the rump shows solidly black, without white spots on either side that are character- 
istic of the Violet-green. 
Nesting. In woodpecker’s abandoned nest-holes or other cavities in dead stubs, 
preferably near or over water, or in nesting boxes. Lined with grasses and feathers. 
Distribution. North America. In Canada north to near tree limits. 
Though normally using Woodpecker's holes in dead stubs over the 
water the Tree Swallow is easily induced to nest in boxes in the garden. 
The beauty of its bright iridescence and the grace of its flight make ample 
payment for the work of preparation, even if its presence were not an 
important safeguard against insects in the garden. The continued existence 
of the species is threatened through the growing scarcity of natural nesting 
sites and an effort should be made to supply the nests artificially. 
616. Bank Swallow, sand martin, l’hirondelle de rivage. Iiiparia riparia. 
L, 5-20. Plate XLVI A. Above, dull brown; below, white with a sharp brown band 
across chest. Female like male. Juvenile similar, but the breast-band more diffuse. 
Distinctions. Dull brown instead of iridescent back; white underparts with decided 
dark breast-band, extending in juvenility towards the abdomen. The complete breast- 
band will separate the Bank from the Tree or Violet-green Swallows that also have white 
underparts, and from the Rough-winged Swallows in which the white is less pure and the 
throat and breast are evenly suffused with ashy brown. 
Field Marks. A white-bellied swallow with complete dark breast-band. A sturdily 
built bird. This character is most noticeable when flocks of mixed species are lined up on 
telegraph or other wires. 
Nesting. Nearly everyone has seen how quickly the exposed sides of a sand or gravel 
pit excavation become pitted with the small nesting holes of these swallows. Too often 
the heedless small boy digs them out. Not only is this dangerous to the boy from the 
possibility of the bank caving, but it is a totally unnecessary disturbance of a very valu- 
able species. 
Distribution. Northern hemisphere. In Canada, across the Dominion, north to 
tree limits. Rarer on the west coast. 
617. American Rough- winged Swallow'. l’iiirondelle a aides h£rissees 
Stelgidoplerys ruticollis. L, 5-75. Dark brown and white like the Bank Swallow (See 
Plate NLVI A), but with breast and throat suffused with light ashy brown instead of 
crossed by a well-defined breast-band. 
Distinctions. The uniform suffusion of light ashy brown on throat and breast will 
usually distinguish this bird from any other swallow likely to be compared with it. The 
surest test, however, is the roughness on the edge of the web of the outer primaries, com- 
posed of fine recurved hooks at the ends of the outer webs, barely 
visible to the naked eye, but in adults plainly perceptible to the touch 
as the finger is drawn along the edge towards the tip (Figure 401). 
Young birds do not always show this well, and various stages of the 
serration appear according to age and sex. 
Field Marks. Likely to be confused only with the Bank 
Swallow. The best recognition mark against that species is the even 
suffusion of light greyish brown over throat and breast instead of a 
white breast and throat with a more or less defined dark breast- 
band. In watching a flock of mixed Rough- winged and Bank 
Swallows, the former can usually be picked out by its slightly 
redder or rustier back, which seems sometimes more conspicuous 
hand. 
Figure 401 
Showing hooka on outer 
edge of outer primary. 
Rough-w inged Swal low : 
magnified. 
in life than in the 
Nesting . Similar to the Bank Swallow, in holes in sand banks. Sometimes in saw- 
dust piles of sawmills and occasionally in crevices in rock piles, cliffs, and masonry. More 
solitary than the Bank Swallow and does not nest in dense colonies. 
