The tanager Tersina viridis (family Thraupidae), the male of which is chiefly turquoise blue with a black face, short swallow-like bill, and long wings, and nests in burrows in cliffs in northern South America.
Origin
Late 19th century.
Definition of swallow tanager in US English:
swallow tanager
noun
The tanager Tersina viridis (family Thraupidae), the male of which is chiefly turquoise blue with a black face, short swallow-like bill, and long wings, and nests in burrows in cliffs in northern South America.