Great Swallow-tailed Swift
Panyptila sanctihieronymi
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<birdfyi-bird slug="panyptila-sanctihieronymi"></birdfyi-bird>The Great Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila sanctihieronymi) is a bird species in the family Apodidae (swifts), within the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars & swifts). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 36.8 cm and a weight of 48.4 g. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
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About
A large swift (18-20 cm) with an extremely long, deeply forked tail. Dark plumage with a white throat and collar. Found in highland forests from southern Mexico to Honduras. Aerial insectivore, foraging over mountain canyons and pine-oak forests. Uncommon and rarely observed.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 36.8 cm | 14.5 in |
| Weight | 48.416666666666664 g | 1.71 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Black upperparts with white throat and white flanks; bold white rump patch; extremely long deeply forked tail with white outer feather edges; Central American species with the most spectacular forked tail among Neotropical swifts.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found from southern Mexico through Guatemala, Honduras, to Costa Rica. Resident in humid highland forest at 600–2,000 m elevation.
Diet & Feeding
Catches aerial plankton — tiny midges, gnats, and ballooning spiders — continuously during soaring flight.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: PN.
Clutch Size
2-3
Sound
Song
Soft, rippling trill with liquid overtones; easy flowing sequence of mellow notes carrying pleasantly across open sky.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Panyptila |
| Species | Panyptila sanctihieronymi |
Distribution
Great Swallow-tailed Swift has been recorded in 1 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift eat?
Where does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift live?
Is the Great Swallow-tailed Swift endangered?
How does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift nest?
What does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift sound like?
How big is the Great Swallow-tailed Swift?
What order and family does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family