This Gorgeous Green Bird Is an Elusive Gem—But a BC Photographer Got Close-Up Shots

Photos of the common but highly elusive violet-green swallow were captured by a bird-watching photographer in West Kelowna, B.C. Courtesy of Brad Vissia

The violet-green swallow may not be the rarest bird in the world, but its colours sing when they catch the sunlight. Birder Brad Vissia, from West Kelowna, B.C., often observes them flocking on power lines, but only at a distance. He yearned to capture their sparkling, iridescent colours up close through his camera.

So when a violet-green swallow happened to land on a rock beside him, Vissia didn’t miss his chance.