Short-tailed Swift (Chaetura brachyura)

Identification & Behavior: ~11 cm (4.3 in). The Short-tailed Swift if blackish with a whitish rump and uppertail coverts that extend to the tip of the tail. The vent and undertail coverts are also whitish. The bird in flight shows the entire tail end (uppertail and undertail coverts) whitish in color. The tail is short and the wings are mostly broad but narrower near the body. The Short-tailed Swift is distinguished from the Gray-rumped Swift and Pale-rumped Swift by a combination of broad wings narrow near the body, a short tail, a whitish uppertail and undertail coverts. Also see Tumbes Swift, which is often considered a sub-species of the Short-tailed Swift.

Status: The Short-tailed Swift is fairly common and widespread in Amazonia where it is known for foraging over large rivers, adjacent floodplain forest, and open and disturbed habitats. It is known to range up to 1200 m along the foothill of the Andes. The Short-tailed Swift also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Vencejo de Cola Corta.

Sub-species: Short-tailed Swift (Chaetura brachyura cinereocauda), J. T. Zimmer, 1953.

Meaning of Name: Chaetura: Gr. Khaitē= long flowing hair and oura= tail. brachyura: Gr. Brakhus= short and ouros, oura =tail,  tailed.

See more of the Family Apodidae