| Ashy-tailed swift | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Apodidae |
| Genus: | Chaetura |
| Species: | C. andrei |
| Binomial name | |
| Chaetura andrei Berlepsch & Hartert, 1902 | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
The ashy-tailed swift or Andre's swift (Chaetura andrei) is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is endemic to northern and central Venezuela. [4] [3] [1]
The taxonomy of this species is confusing. The larger and far more widespread Sick's swift was previously regarded as a subspecies of the ashy-tailed swift, but Marín (1997) found that Sick's swift is more closely related to the chimney swift. [2] Marín further suggested that the ashy-tailed swift was identical to Vaux's swift of the subspecies aphanes. If following this approach, andrei (with aphanes as a junior synonym) becomes a subspecies of Vaux's swift. This placement, however, was considered mistaken by Restall et al (2006), who state that andrei and aphanes, while virtually identical under normal field conditions, actually do differ and also have different behavior and habitat preferences (ashy-tailed swift prefers forested lowland rivers, while Vaux's swift race aphanes prefers mountain slopes). [5] As of early 2020, taxonomists retained ashy-tailed as a subspecies of Vaux's swift.
A detailed study by Chesser et al (2018) supported Restall et al's assertion that ashy-tailed swift is a separate species from Vaux's swift. [6] Based on those data, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) split ashy-tailed from Vaux's as its own species in June 2020. [7] The International Ornithological Congress (IOC) followed suit in January 2021. [4]
Ashy-tailed swift is very similar to the widespread Vaux's swift. It is about 11 cm (4.3 in) long and weighs 15 to 22 g (0.53 to 0.78 oz). The wings, like those of most swifts, are long and pointed. It is grayish brown overall, paler on the underside. The ashy-tailed's throat and abdomen tend to be browner than those of Vaux's, the back lighter brown, and the rump paler. [6] [8]
Ashy-tailed swift is endemic to Venezuela, found in deciduous forest of the eastern lowlands and the eastern Coastal Range. [8]
Almost nothing is known about the ashy-tailed swift's feeding, breeding, and other behavior. It is an aerial insectivore like all swifts, and its diet is assumed to be insects and spiders. [8]
As of late 2022 xeno-canto had no recordings of the ashy-tailed swift, though one recording attributed to Vaux's swift was taken within its range. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library had very few recordings. The species' call is describec as a "[h]igh-pitched, rapid chipping and buzzy insect-like twitter given in flight." [8]
The IUCN has classified ashy-tailed swift as Vulnerable due to its estimated population of 2500 to 10,000 mature individuals that is declining due to loss of its forest habitat. [1]
The band-rumped swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found from Panama south through Colombia into Ecuador, east from Venezuela into the Guianas and Brazil, and on Trinidad.
The grey-rumped swift or gray-rumped swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama; in every mainland South American country except Chile, French Guiana, Suriname, and Uruguay; in Trinidad and Tobago; and on Grenada.
The chestnut-collared swift is a species of bird in subfamily Cypseloidinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found from Mexico and Trinidad south to Peru and Bolivia.
The fork-tailed palm swift or Neotropical palm swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found across most of northern South America and on Trinidad and Tobago.
The violet-throated starfrontlet is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru and possibly Ecuador.
The Andean swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
The white-tipped swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and possibly Guyana.
Chapman's swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela, and possibly Ecuador.
The pale-rumped swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The Costa Rican swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
The Lesser Antillean swift is a species a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found on Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and possibly Nevis.
Sick's swift is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It was previously considered conspecific with the smaller ashy-tailed swift, but a study published in 1997 found that Sick's swift was closer to the chimney swift. The English name commemorates the German-born ornithologist Helmut Sick who studied South American birds. It is a migratory species that breeds in central South America and overwinters in northern South America. The IUCN has listed it as being of "Least Concern".
The pygmy palm swift, also known as the pygmy swift, is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
The red-billed ground cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the tribe Neomorphini of subfamily Crotophaginae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and possibly Ecuador.
The ashy-faced owl is a species of bird in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. It is found on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, on Dominica, and on several other islands of the Lesser Antilles.
The Colombian crake is a species of bird in the subfamily Rallinae of the rail, crake, and coot family Rallidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
The gartered trogon, also known as the northern violaceous trogon, is a bird in the family Trogonidae, the quetzals and trogons. It is found in Mexico, all of Central America, and Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The foothill screech owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Vaux's swift is a small swift native to North America, Central America, and northern South America. It was named for the American scientist William Sansom Vaux.
The butterfly coquette is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
