Gray-rumped Swift
NameGray-rumped Swift
Common NameGray-rumped Swift
Scientific NameChaetura cinereiventris
FamilyApodidae
Wingspan (cm)29
Length (cm)11
Weight (g)17.5
Plumage DetailsSooty blackish-brown overall, with a contrasting pale gray rump and uppertail coverts. The throat and breast are dark, fading to a paler gray on the belly and undertail coverts.
Vocalization / CallHigh-pitched, rapid, chattering or twittering calls, often given in flight, described as 'tittering' or 'chippering'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in Central and South America, from southern Mexico south through Central America to northern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and the Guianas.
Identifying FeaturesPale gray rump, Dark sooty body, Cigar-shaped body, Long, scythe-like wings, Rapid, erratic flight
Description
A small to medium-sized swift characterized by its dark sooty plumage and a distinctive pale gray rump. These aerial insectivores spend most of their lives in flight, exhibiting rapid, erratic movements as they forage.
