The Shiny Blue Bird

Though a number of our local birds have blue plumage [1], the Tree Swallows are almost certainly the shiniest. While some birds are bluer (like Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, and probably Blue Jays), when you factor in the shine, you get a Tree Swallow [2].

I'm pretty sure those thorns indicate this fella was in a Honey Locust tree. I don't know if it's a favorite perch for this bird, but it might be a little safer there than elsewhere. I suspect that any climbing predator would need to take care to avoid those dangerously sharp thorns. Of course, this tree provides little protection from an aerial attack from a hawk.

Since the males are generally bluer/shinier, this is almost certainly a male.

May 14, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 292808063, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

[1] But they don't have blue pigment; their blue plumage is dependent on their feather structure to reflect the blue light hitting them.

[2] At least that's true for New Jersey passerines; if you move out of this area though I wouldn't be surprised if there are more.

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