White-chinned Swift (Cypseloides cryptus)

Identification & Behavior: ~15 cm (6 in). The White-chinned Swift is all dusky with a very small white chin and a forehead flecked with whitish. Adult birds often show a white area on the feet area. The juvenile has a lower belly, vent, and undertail coverts flecked with whitish.  The tail is relatively long and square.  It is very similar to a juvenile White-chested Swift but is distinguished by having a square tail and lower belly and undertail coverts flecked with whitish. Extreme care must be used when identifying Cypseloides swifts.

Status: The White-chinned Swift is rare on the foothills of the east slope of the Andes where has been recorded in scattered locations near 1000 m of elevation. The geographic distribution of this swift is poorly understood in part due to similarity to other swifts and identification difficulties. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Vencejo de Barbilla Blanca.

Sub-species: White-chinned Swift (Cypseloides cryptus), J. T. Zimmer, 1945.

Meaning of Name: Cypseloides: Gr. Cypselus= Genus Cypselus Illiger 1811. Oidēs= resembling. cryptus: Gr. Kruptos= hidden, obscure, concealed.

See more of the Family Apodidae