(Vocalisation. References updated) |
(photo captions) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Alternative name: American Black Swift''' | '''Alternative name: American Black Swift''' | ||
| − | [[Image:080705 Black Swift 9555.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Glen+Tepke|Glen Tepke}}<br />[[McArthur-Burney Falls State Park]], Shasta County, [[California]], [[USA]], | + | [[Image:080705 Black Swift 9555.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Glen+Tepke|Glen Tepke}}<br />[[McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park]], Shasta County, [[California]], [[USA]], July 2008]] |
;[[:Category:Cypseloides|Cypseloides]] niger | ;[[:Category:Cypseloides|Cypseloides]] niger | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | A fairly large (15-18 cm in the nominate form of West Indies) black swift with slightly | + | A fairly large (15-18 cm (6-7.25 ins) in the nominate form of West Indies) black swift with slightly notched and relatively long tail.<br /> At close range, white on forehead and brows may be visible. <br />The body is rather stocky, the wings relatively broad. |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Image:080705 Black Swift 9468.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Glen+Tepke|Glen Tepke}}<br />[[McArthur-Burney Falls State Park]], Shasta County, [[California]], [[USA]], | + | [[Image:080705 Black Swift 9468.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Glen+Tepke|Glen Tepke}}<br />[[McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park]], Shasta County, [[California]], [[USA]], July 2008]] |
The Black Swift is distributed from SE [[Alaska]] through SW [[USA]], and [[Mexico]] to [[Costa Rica]], and in the [[West Indies]] to [[Trinidad and Tobago]] to [[Guyana]]. Even southern populations (e.g., in the [[Lesser Antilles]]) are migratory, presumably wintering in [[South America]], while the species is present year round in [[Hispaniola]] and [[Jamaica]].<br/> | The Black Swift is distributed from SE [[Alaska]] through SW [[USA]], and [[Mexico]] to [[Costa Rica]], and in the [[West Indies]] to [[Trinidad and Tobago]] to [[Guyana]]. Even southern populations (e.g., in the [[Lesser Antilles]]) are migratory, presumably wintering in [[South America]], while the species is present year round in [[Hispaniola]] and [[Jamaica]].<br/> | ||
A highly migratory species, but the definitive wintering grounds are still unknown. Recorded in winter in [[Colombia]].<br/> | A highly migratory species, but the definitive wintering grounds are still unknown. Recorded in winter in [[Colombia]].<br/> | ||
Revision as of 22:15, 24 June 2013
Alternative name: American Black Swift
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Shasta County, California, USA, July 2008
- Cypseloides niger
Identification
A fairly large (15-18 cm (6-7.25 ins) in the nominate form of West Indies) black swift with slightly notched and relatively long tail.
At close range, white on forehead and brows may be visible.
The body is rather stocky, the wings relatively broad.
Distribution
Photo by Glen Tepke
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Shasta County, California, USA, July 2008
The Black Swift is distributed from SE Alaska through SW USA, and Mexico to Costa Rica, and in the West Indies to Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana. Even southern populations (e.g., in the Lesser Antilles) are migratory, presumably wintering in South America, while the species is present year round in Hispaniola and Jamaica.
A highly migratory species, but the definitive wintering grounds are still unknown. Recorded in winter in Colombia.
Not globally threatened, abundant in parts of its range, uncommon in others.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with White-chested Swift, Rothschild's Swift and Sooty Swift.
Subspecies
It's considered to have three subspecies[1]:
- C.n. borealis:
- C.n. costaricensis:
- From central Mexico to Costa Rica, smaller and darker than borealis
- C.n. niger:
- From Trinidad to the West Indies
Habitat
In the north of its range in a variety of open highland habitat. In the south around montane evergreen forest, also secondary growth. In eastern Caribbean, they often seem absent in good weather due to hunting very high, but in bad weather may hunt all the way down to sea level.
Behaviour
Like other Swifts highly gregarious, sometimes seen in flocks numbering hundreds or thousands of birds, often together with other Swift species. May travel long distances between nestplaces and feeding grounds.
Diet
Feeds on various insects, eg. wasps, bees or ants, taken in flight.
Breeding
Nests in June in the USA, earlier (May) in the south. Often near waterfalls. Needs darkness, water, inaccessibility, a good flyway, high relief and a rock niche to build its pad of moss and twigs, bound with mud. Lays one egg. Copulation takes place in flight, like in other Swift species.
Vocalisation
Call: a rapid, repetitive ci-chi-chi-chit
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Whatbird.com
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black Swift. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black_Swift
