White-chinned Swift
Cypseloides cryptus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="cypseloides-cryptus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) of humid lowland and foothill forests from southern Mexico to Peru. Dark sooty-brown plumage with a small white chin patch. Aerial insectivore, feeding over forest canopy and ravines. Nests behind waterfalls. Uncommon and poorly studied.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 27.4 cm | 10.8 in |
| Weight | 35.95 g | 1.27 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Uniformly sooty-black plumage with narrow white chin spot; no white rump or other pale markings; large for a Cypseloides; cryptic appearance made identification historically difficult; white chin the sole distinguishing mark.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found from southern Mexico south through Central America and northwestern South America to Bolivia. Nomadic; joins large mixed swift flocks.
Diet & Feeding
Aerial-only diet of small flying insects, winged termites, and drifting spiders caught during continuous flight.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: HC. Incubation: 30 days. Fledging: 55-58 days.
Clutch Size
1
Sound
Song
Soft, buzzy twittering; weak 'tsit-tsit' in flight; calls over Neotropical waterfalls; thin, high-pitched contact notes; soft compared to most swifts; rarely vocal
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Cypseloides |
| Species | Cypseloides cryptus |
Distribution
White-chinned Swift has been recorded in 4 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the White-chinned Swift eat?
Where does the White-chinned Swift live?
Is the White-chinned Swift endangered?
How does the White-chinned Swift nest?
What does the White-chinned Swift sound like?
How big is the White-chinned Swift?
What order and family does the White-chinned Swift belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family