- Tachycineta euchrysea
Identification
12cm.
- Strongly iridescent bronzy green to coppery bronze above, often appearing golden
- Dusky bronze-green wings and tail
- Slightly forked tail
- White underparts
- Dusky underwing-coverts with bronze-green margins
Female similar but duller iwth some grey-brown mottling on breast. Juveniles are duller and browner.
Variations
Subspecies T. e. sclateri less golden, with longer wings, smaller bill and deeper tail fork
Distribution
Found on Jamaica and Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic).
Has a small and fragmented range and is very rare and local. Only few recent records from Jamaica.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are two subspecies[1]:
- T. e. euchrysea on Jamaica
- T. e. sclateri on Hispaniola
Sometimes placed in a separate genus Lamprochelidon or Kalochelidon.
Habitat
Humid montane forest and pine forest, also secondary forest. Forages also over open country and cultivation.
Occurs up to 2000m.
Behaviour
Diet
They hawk (alone or in small groups) often low to the ground, for beetles and wasps.
Breeding
Breeding season June to July in Jamaica, also April in Haiti.
Nests often colonial. The nest is placed in a cavity like an old woodpecker hole, a dead pine tree, in a cave, among boulders in old mines or in buildings. Lays 2-4 eggs.
Movements
A resident species, may move to lower altitudes after breeding.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2004. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334696
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved April 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Golden Swallow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Golden_Swallow
