Short-tailed Swift

Overview

The short-tailed swift (Chaetura brachyura) is a small bird in the swift family, Apodidae, characterized by its robust body and short tail. It is a common resident across the Caribbean and tropical South America, where it is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Approximately 10.5 cm in length with a robust body, long narrow wings, and a distinctively short tail.
• Mainly black plumage with a pale rump and tail, lacking the contrast between these areas seen in related species like the band-rumped swift.
• Flight call described as a rapid chittering sti-sti-stew-stew-stew.

Habitat

Found in a variety of habitats including savanna, open woodland, and cultivation areas. Its range extends from Panama through Colombia, the Guianas, and the Amazon Basin in South America, as well as the islands of Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, and Saint Vincent. It typically occurs below 800 m above sea level, though it has been recorded as high as 1,300 m in mountainous terrain.

Diet

The swift feeds on flying insects, including winged ants and termites, while in flight.

Did you know?

Nests are shallow half-saucers of twigs and saliva attached to vertical surfaces, often man-made structures such as chimneys or manholes, similar to the chimney swift. Up to seven eggs may be laid in a single clutch, though an average of three or four is more common.