Black Swift
Cypseloides niger
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<birdfyi-bird slug="cypseloides-niger"></birdfyi-bird>About
A large swift (15-18 cm, wingspan 38 cm) with all-dark plumage and a slightly forked tail. Breeds on sea cliffs and behind waterfalls across western North America and the Caribbean. Aerial insectivore, foraging high over mountains and valleys. A long-distance migrant wintering in South America.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 29.9 cm | 11.8 in |
| Weight | 41.55 g | 1.47 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Entirely black with slight glossy sheen; faint pale scaling on forehead and chin in fresh plumage; broad-winged and large-bodied; slightly forked tail; sexes alike; North American cliff-nesting swift with wholly dark plumage.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Breeds in western North America from Alaska south to California and the Caribbean. Migrates to winter in Mexico and Central America.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Incubation: 23-27 days. Fledging: 40-61 days.
Clutch Size
1
Sound
Song
Soft, buzzy chittering 'spee-spee'; thin twittering over mountain waterfalls; higher and softer than Common Swift; small flocks call weakly over nesting cliffs
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Cypseloides |
| Species | Cypseloides niger |
Distribution
Black Swift has been recorded in 2 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family