White-throated Swift

White-throated Swift

About the photographs

About the map

Play sound from this species

White-throated Swift in flight

Menu

1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

One of the fastest flying birds in North America, the White-throated Swift is a common sight in the canyons, foothills, and mountains of the American West.

Description

• Small bird.
• Black back, wings, and tail.
• White throat, belly, and sides of rump.
• Body cylindrical.
• Wings long, pointed, and swept back.

• Size: 15-18 cm (6-7 in)
• Weight: 28-36 g (0.99-1.27 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Sound

Call a long descending series of scraping notes.

Conservation Status

Populations may be declining.

Other Names

Martinet à gorge blanche (French)
Vencejo pecho blanco (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• A highly social creature, the White-throated Swift sleeps in roosts of hundreds of birds, typically in larger cavities in cliffs and large rocks. In the evening they gather above a roost, ascending beyond view and then descend as a group. With a swirling in front of the roost crack, individuals enter the roost several abreast. Occasionally one misses, bouncing off the entrance to rejoin the swirling mass.

Sources used to construct this page:

Ryan, T. P., C. T. Collins. 2000. White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis). In The Birds of North America, No. 526 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.