Two swifts, yucatan , to identify (1 Viewer)

[juancar dieguez]

In Akumal , México, 16/12/2021
Are vauxi or pelagica ? Different birds

 

[njlarsen]

It seems that there is a single observation of Chimney Swift in Yucatan in December during the last 25 years: Sign in
While vauxi is common: Sign in

Niels

 

[THE_FERN]

I've not seen chimney. The first seems clearly to be Vaux's (v. prominent pale throat patch). Given what Niels says the second probably is too

 

[pbjosh]

I have never actually seen a great number of Chimney Swifts so don't have an instant "feel" for their look / structure. That said, the first bird looks fine for Vaux's, certainly, and I agree the 2nd bird very likely is the same.

Chimney is certainly under-detected and under-recorded in the tropics, and probably occurs in the Yucatan much more regularly than eBird would suggest, though it is perhaps/likely still outnumbered by Vaux's even during peak migration (the last bit is just a guess on my part). However, I don't think it is expected in Mexico at all in mid-winter, birds should be in S America by then, having passed through Mexico and Central America by November at the latest.

I was recently in the Amazon in the theoretical wintering range of Chimney Swift for all of November. It was always in the back of my mind that Chimney could occur, and I generally put a lot of effort into Swift watching/ID when possible as I enjoy them quite a bit. I saw a lot of Chaetura, and a lot of well seen / definitely identifiable birds, but all the Chaetura I/we could ID were other species and none even suggested Chimney.

 

[njlarsen]

However, I don't think it is expected in Mexico at all in mid-winter, birds should be in S America by then, having passed through Mexico and Central America by November at the latest.

The field guides I checked said transient in Mexico and N CA until early November, so in agreement with the above
Niels