The genus
Tachycineta was introduced by the German ornithologists
Jean Cabanisin 1850 with the
violet-green swallow (
Tachycineta thalassina) as the
type species. The genus name is from
Ancient Greek takhukinētos meaning "moving quickly". The genus contains nine species, divided into two sub-clades that are associated with geography: a North American/Caribbean clade and a South/Central American clade. == References ==