Vaux's swift? Playa Del Rey, CA US (1 Viewer)

[Squig]

vuax's swift?

 

[KenM]

Apart from relatively short tail and wings...location suggests Vaux Swift.

cheers

 

[fugl]

Yes, Vaux's. When was the photo taken? Here in Reno (where they come through in very small numbers), I most often see them in the first week of May.

 

[Tiraya]

There are vaux's all over the place in So Cal. right now so the timing is right.

 

[The Falcon]

Agree with Vaux's Swift.

 

[Phil Carter]

Agree with Vaux's but still don't know how to pronounce it.

Phil

 

[fugl]

Agree with Vaux's but still don't know how to pronounce it.

Phil

As in "boxes". For years, until I learned better, I pronounced it "vohs".

 

[Phil Carter]

As in "boxes". For years, until I learned better, I pronounced it "vohs".

Thanks for that, I'd always gone with "vohs" but not with any great confidence. I've also heard "vorks" but that never sounded right.

Phil

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Interested to hear from US birders what their experiences are of how this bird is proportionately pronounced in modern times.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

Everyone I've asked out in the western US can told me it rhymes with boxes.

 

[Squig]

There's this guide.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/birdname.htm

 

[BeesWing]

Oh that's very fun. It doesn't explain my failure to notice the lack of an "L" in Abert's Towhee though.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

That took me years to realize too!

 

[Squig]

What!?

There's no L in Abert's Towhee!

 

[BeesWing]

Indeed, there is not, I was adding it in my mind! I first saw Vaux's swift in Portland, Oregon, many years ago, in a spectacular evening flight of thousands into an elementary school's incinerator's chimney. People from all over town gathered to see it.