Short-tailed Swift
Chaetura brachyura
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<birdfyi-bird slug="chaetura-brachyura"></birdfyi-bird>The Short-tailed Swift (Chaetura brachyura) is a bird species in the family Apodidae (vencejos), within the order Caprimulgiformes (chotacabras y vencejos). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 23.7 cm and a weight of 18.6 g. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
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Acerca de
Vencejo de cola corta (Chaetura brachyura), 10–11 cm. Plumaje negro uniforme con rabadilla y cola grises pálidas. Cola extremadamente corta. Ampliamente distribuido en América tropical. Vuela velozmente capturando insectos. Nidifica en palmeras y árboles huecos. Emite gorjeos agudos en vuelo.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Envergadura | 23,7 cm | 9.3 in |
| Peso | 18,625 g | 0.66 oz |
Identificación
Plumaje
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
Distribución geográfica
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.
Estado de conservación
Comportamiento y reproducción
Nidificación
Incubation: 17-18 days. Fledging: 22-23 days.
Tamaño de la puesta
2-7
Sonido
Canto
Harsh, screaming chatter with emphatic delivery; loud coarse notes erupting suddenly during competitive aerial encounters.
Taxonomía
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Orden | Caprimulgiformes (Chotacabras y Vencejos) |
| Familia | Apodidae (Vencejos) |
| Genus | Chaetura |
| Especies | Chaetura brachyura |
Distribution
Short-tailed Swift has been recorded in 4 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Preguntas frecuentes
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