Betula pubescens Betula pubescens Betula pubescens (syn. "Betula alba"), commonly known as downy birch and also as moor birch, white birch, European white birch or hairy birch, is a species of deciduous tree, native and abundant throughout northern Europe and northern Asia, growing farther north than any other broadleaf tree. It is closely related to, and often confused with, the silver birch ("B. pendula"), but grows in wetter places with heavier soils and poorer drainage; smaller trees can also be confused with the dwarf birch ("B. nana"). Three varieties are recognised and it hybridises with the silver and dwarf birches. A number
White-winged swallow White-winged swallow The white-winged swallow ("Tachycineta albiventer") is a resident breeding swallow in tropical South America from Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad south to northern Argentina. It is not found west of the Andes. This swallow is largely non-migratory. The genus "Tachycineta" was established for this group of swallows by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1850. The genus name derives from Ancient Greek "takhukinetos", "moving quickly"; the specific name "albiventer" is from Latin "albus", "white", and "venter", "belly". This swallow is monotypic, and no subspecies are currently recognized. The adult white-winged swallow is long and weighs . It has iridescent blue-green