Short-tailed Swift
Chaetura brachyura
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="chaetura-brachyura"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/chaetura-brachyura/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/chaetura-brachyura/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/chaetura-brachyura/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="chaetura-brachyura"></birdfyi-bird>On this page
About
A small swift (10-11 cm) found in lowland forests from Panama to southern Brazil and Trinidad. Dark plumage with a noticeably short, square tail with spine tips. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. The smallest member of the genus Chaetura.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 23.7 cm | 9.3 in |
| Weight | 18.625 g | 0.66 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Small; dark sooty-brown upperparts; very pale whitish rump and tail contrasting sharply with dark body; underparts pale greyish; extremely short tail giving distinctive blunt-ended flight silhouette; widespread Trinidad to Argentina.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found across South America east of the Andes, from Trinidad and the Guianas south to Bolivia and the Río de la Plata. Lowland forest.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds exclusively on aerial plankton — tiny flies, aphids, and spiders — captured in continuous fast flight.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Incubation: 17-18 days. Fledging: 22-23 days.
Clutch Size
2-7
Sound
Song
Harsh, screaming chatter with emphatic delivery; loud coarse notes erupting suddenly during competitive aerial encounters.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Chaetura |
| Species | Chaetura brachyura |
Distribution
Short-tailed Swift has been recorded in 4 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Short-tailed Swift eat?
Where does the Short-tailed Swift live?
Is the Short-tailed Swift endangered?
How does the Short-tailed Swift nest?
What does the Short-tailed Swift sound like?
How big is the Short-tailed Swift?
What order and family does the Short-tailed Swift belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family