Hello, For three days I've been following an odd looking swallow: all dark, dull colored, rather small. Given size, dull (not glossy) color and rounded, slightly notched tail, I ruled out Purple Martin. So, what other swallow is all dark?
Today I finally got to see the bird hang out with other swallows, Rough-winged Swallows. It seems the bird is a dark morph or melanistic Rough-winged. A quick internet search revealed a few other cases reported throughout the U.S., but defenitely a first for me and an interesting puzzle. I also found out that it's not one but two birds with the odd coloration (runs in the family?), the other being slightly lighter in the chest, belly and undertail coverts. This was on East Park, in front of the intersection of Interlocken Blvd. and Interlocken Pwy. in Broomfield. The swallows perch to rest on the bare branches of two cottonwoods on the southwest side of the pond. You can see one of the birds in the following links: http://flic.kr/p/cw4As3 http://flic.kr/p/cw4Auo http://flic.kr/p/cw4Avw Luis (Beto) Matheus Erie, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en-US.
