Tachycineta albilinea
Mangrove Swallow
photo needed!
Photo © Peter Wrege
The Mangrove Swallow is resident in coastal areas of Mexico, south through Central America to the Eastern Darién region of Panamá. It is most common along the coasts, although may be common in the interior in association with large areas of water (e.g. Gatun Lake and the Chagres River in Panamá). Mangrove Swallows favor areas with extensive water, including mangroves, lakes and large rivers, marshes and wet meadows. (A very similar swallow occurring in coastal Peru, formerly considered a sub species, is now recognized as a distinct species - T. stolzmanni)

This is the focal species at the Hill Bank Golondrinas Site.

Mangrove Swallows forage predominantly over water in the early morning and late afternoon. Studies by Ricklefs (1971) and Dyrcz (1984) suggest that Mangrove Swallows may feed unusually large prey species to their nestlings (observations on two broods), although adults appear to feed themselves on smaller prey items (based on two adult stomach samples).

Breeding commences in late March or early April in the northern parts of the range (Mexico, Northern Central America), but begins in January in Panamá, during the dry season. Nest sites over water seem to be preferred by this species. Nests are constructed of fine grasses and moss, with occasional leaves or larger stems and small sticks. The nest is lined with feathers.

Typical clutch sizes are three to five eggs, and the incubation period was 17 days in a single nest studied by Dyrcz (1984), with eggs hatching asynchronously. The nestling period is 23-27 days.