Nosy Tree Swallows

I've been surprised at how often while walking by a birdhouse a Tree Swallow will poke its head out to check out who/what is walking by. This is no doubt because, among birds approximately the size of an Eastern Bluebird [1], the Tree Swallow combines both the feistiness to claim a birdhouse and the abundance to occupy a lot of them.

While I've implied they poke their heads out because they're nosy, I have to acknowledge that they've claimed a box to raise their children in, and you could view them as concerned parents participating in a neighborhood watch program.

However you interpret their actions, it's kind of neat to see a little head poking out of the birdhouses as you go by.
July 17, 2022 at Duke Farms
Photo 222062634, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)



[1] My understanding is that most of the birdhouses in my area were put up for use by Eastern Bluebirds, though larger boxes might be intended for American Kestrels, Wood Ducks, etc.

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