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Bird

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

Lives in Louisiana all year and nests here. Found in all 64 parishes, across 15 habitats.

Here
All year
Nesting
Nests here
Range
All 64 parishes
Habitats
15

At a glance

Group
Birds
Here
All year
Nesting
Nests here
Range
All 64 parishes
Habitats
15
Habitat models
Summer, Winter

Where it lives

The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.

Habitats in Louisiana 15

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 15

Swamps

The Land of Evangeline
WinterWest Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall; East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp; Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Swamp Systems; West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River SwampJoseph Rusling Meeker, The Land of Evangeline (1874): moss-hung trees over a still bayou in Louisiana swamp forest. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Louisiana bayou country (Meeker, The Land of Evangeline, 1874)The Land of Evangeline, Joseph Rusling Meeker, 1874. Public domain. Source record.

Coastal dunes and beaches

Open sand of beaches, dunes and the hollows between them.

SummerWinterUnconsolidated Shore (Beach/Dune)

Coastal Plain seepage bogs

Open, wet, seepage-fed bogs of the Coastal Plain and Sandhills, often with pitcher plants.

WinterSouthern Coastal Plain Herbaceous Seepage Bog

Coastal tidal marshes (salinity not stated)

Tidal marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts where the source does not say whether the water is fresh, brackish or salt. A stated salinity files the marsh under freshwater tidal marshes or salt and brackish marshes instead.

Winter

Disturbed and introduced wetlands

Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

SummerWinter

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

SummerWinterMississippi River Riparian Forest; Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest; West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest; Red River Large Floodplain Forest; Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest

Freshwater marshes

Open, herb-covered wetlands with fresh, non-tidal water.

WinterTexas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie Slough

Hardwood and oak flatwoods

Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.

WinterLower Mississippi River Flatwoods

Pine flatwoods

Flat, sandy Coastal Plain pine woodlands, wetter than sandhills and denser than savannas.

WinterWest Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods

Pine savannas

Open, fire-kept longleaf pine stands over grasses and wildflowers on wet to moist sandy soil.

WinterWest Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods

Ponds, lakes and their shores

Still water and its edges: ponds, lakes, millponds and reservoirs.

SummerWinterOpen Water (Fresh)

Prairies and grasslands

Open, grass-dominated places kept open by fire, grazing or thin soil, from tallgrass prairie to Piedmont prairies.

WinterWest Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Calcareous Prairie; Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

SummerWinterDeveloped, Open Space; Pasture/Hay; Disturbed/Successional - Grass/Forb Regeneration; Utility Swath - Herbaceous; Ruderal Upland - Old Field

Seeps and springs

Places where groundwater keeps the soil or rock wet, such as seepage slopes and spring runs.

WinterWest Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall

Sounds, bays and tidal flats

Salt and brackish open water of sounds, bays and estuaries, with the mud and sand flats and seagrass beds that tides cover and uncover; the vegetated marsh is salt and brackish marshes.

SummerWinterOpen Water (Brackish/Salt)
Other habitats in its models (113)

Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Louisiana. Those recorded in Louisiana first, the rest by region.

In Louisiana 1

  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Catahoula Barrens Winter.
Elsewhere in the South (53)
  • Appalachian Shale Barrens Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Freshwater Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Indian River Lagoon Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Large Natural Lakeshore Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Dune and Maritime Grassland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Xeric River Dune Winter.
  • Central and Upper Texas Coast Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • Central Florida Herbaceous Pondshore Winter.
  • Central Florida Herbaceous Seep Winter.
  • Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Cumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Savanna and Wet Prairie Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Florida Big Bend Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Florida Big Bend Salt-Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Florida Dry Prairie Winter.
  • Florida Panhandle Beach Vegetation Winter.
  • Floridian Highlands Freshwater Marsh Winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Winter.
  • Mississippi Sound Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Nashville Basin Limestone Glade Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Ridge and Valley Calcareous Valley Bottom Glade and Woodland Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • South Florida Bayhead Swamp Winter.
  • South Florida Cypress Dome Winter.
  • South Florida Dwarf Cypress Savanna Winter.
  • South Florida Everglades Sawgrass Marsh Winter.
  • South Florida Wet Marl Prairie Winter.
  • South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Summer.
  • South-Central Interior Large Floodplain Summer.
  • South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian Summer.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Summer and winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Summer and winter.
  • Southwest Florida Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • Texas Saline Coastal Prairie Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Nepheline Syenite Glade Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Calcareous Prairie Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
Northeast (6)
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Salt Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Summer.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Summer and winter.
Midwest (8)
  • Central Mixedgrass Prairie Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Central Tallgrass Prairie Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • North-Central Interior Oak Savanna Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • North-Central Interior Sand and Gravel Tallgrass Prairie Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • North-Central Oak Barrens Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Summer and winter.
Land cover and other classes (45)
  • Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Arkansas Valley Prairie and Woodland Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Herbaceous Wetland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Depression Pondshore Summer and winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Winter.
  • Central Appalachian Floodplain - Forest Modifier Summer.
  • Central Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier Summer.
  • Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems Summer.
  • Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems Summer.
  • Central Interior and Appalachian Shrub-Herbaceous Wetland Systems Summer.
  • Central Interior and Appalachian Swamp Systems Summer.
  • Developed, Low Intensity Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Prairie and Woodland Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Depression Pondshore Summer and winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Wet Meadow, Prairie, and Marsh Winter.
  • Eastern Highland Rim Prairie and Barrens - Dry Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Harvested Forest - Grass/Forb Regeneration Summer and winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Annual Grassland Summer and winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Forbland Summer and winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland Summer and winter.
  • Open Water (Aquaculture) Summer and winter.
  • Recently Burned Summer and winter.
  • Recently Burned Forest Summer and winter.
  • Recently Burned Grassland Summer and winter.
  • Recently Logged Areas Summer, only within 250 m of water.
  • South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest Modifier Summer.
  • South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Herbaceous Modifier Summer.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Nupea Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression Swamp Summer and winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore Winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore (Lake/River/Pond) Summer and winter.
  • Western Great Plains Depressional Wetland Systems Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.

All habitats

Seasons in Louisiana

  • Migratory: does not nest here, in 22 of 64 parishes.
  • Winter: does not nest here, in 48 of 64 parishes.
  • Summer: nests here, in 4 of 64 parishes.

Food plants

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Plants matched by genus.

Native plants in these genera 8

Plant genera in its diet records (4)
  • Morella Fruit. 3 diet records. 3 native plants in Louisiana
  • Cornus Fruit. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Louisiana
  • Juniperus Fruit. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Louisiana
  • Parthenocissus Fruit. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Louisiana

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Also found in its main habitats

Its main habitats in Louisiana, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.

Tree Swallow uses many habitats in Louisiana; these are its 3 most characteristic.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Birds 140

Plants 958

All of roadsides, fields and disturbed ground in Louisiana

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Birds 108

Plants 267

All of floodplain and bottomland forests in Louisiana

Disturbed and introduced wetlands

Birds 170

Plants 20

All of disturbed and introduced wetlands in Louisiana

USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models.

Sources