About Tersina viridis (Illiger, 1811)
The swallow tanager, scientifically known as Tersina viridis (Illiger, 1811), measures 14.5–15 cm (5.7–5.9 in) in length and has a broad, flat bill. This species shows strong sexual dimorphism. Males are bright turquoise blue with a black face and throat; their turquoise flanks have black barring, and their lower bellies are white. Females are bright green with dusky-olive barring on the flanks, and they do not have the black face mask seen on males. Swallow tanagers are gregarious, but they do not associate with other bird species. Their diet mainly consists of fruit, though they will also sally after insects from an exposed perch. Among all tanagers, swallow tanagers are unique for their occasional behavior of digging a hole in a bank to build their nest.
