Is this an adult female Tree Swallow

[smittyone@cox.net]

Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA.  I presume to the two birds on the ground are immature Tree Swallows.  I also assume the arriving bird is an adult Tree Swallow.  But is it a male or female adult?  In the last pic, it's the bird on the right (looking at the viewer).

[akandula]

These are all definitely females. If there is any brown on the head or back in spring/summer, the bird is a female.

There's plenty of brown on the sitting birds, so I'd call them SY female Tree Swallows. The flying bird might be an SY or an ASY bird, I'm not sure.

[Jefferson Shank]

 

These are all definitely females. If there is any brown on the head or back in spring/summer, the bird is a female.

There's plenty of brown on the sitting birds, so I'd call them SY female Tree Swallows. The flying bird might be an SY or an ASY bird, I'm not sure.

agreed

Nice pictures!!

[smittyone@cox.net]

Thank you.  What does SY and ASY mean?

 

[akiley]

1 minute ago, smittyone@cox.net said:

Thank you.  What does SY and ASY mean?

 

Second year and after second year.