How long do violet-green swallows live?
The oldest Violet-green Swallow on record lived to 9.1 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild violet-green swallows live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 9.1 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 4.7 in, 0.5 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 6 of 7
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Violet-green Swallow can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Violet-green swallows usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 4–6 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 13–18 days to hatch.
How violet-green swallows compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other swallows on this site.
- Barn Swallow16 years
- Purple Martin13.8 years
- Tree Swallow12.1 years
- Cliff Swallow11.8 years
- Bank Swallow10.1 years
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow5.9 years
More about violet-green swallows
Frequently asked
How long do violet-green swallows live?
The longest-lived Violet-green Swallow on record reached 9.1 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild violet-green swallows live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Violet-green Swallow when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Violet-green Swallow ever recorded?
9.1 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Violet-green Swallow raise in a year?
Pairs lay 4–6 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info