| Chaetura | |
|---|---|
|   | |
| Chimney swift Chaetura pelagica | |
| Scientific classification   | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Chordata | 
| Class: | Aves | 
| Clade: | Strisores | 
| Order: | Apodiformes | 
| Family: | Apodidae | 
| Subfamily: | Apodinae | 
| Genus: | Chaetura Stephens, 1826 | 
| Species | |
| 11 living, see text | |
Chaetura is a genus of needletail swifts found in the Americas. Although they resemble swallows, the two are not at all closely related; this is instead a result of convergent evolution. Some members of Chaetura are long-distance migrants, while others are year-round residents.
The genus Chaetura was introduced in 1826 by the English naturalist James Francis Stephens who listed several species in the genus but did not specify a type. [1] In 1829 the English zoologist William Swainson selected the type as Chaetura pelasgia Stevens (sic). This is a junior synonym of Hirundo pelagica Linnaeus the chimney swift. [2] [3] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek χαιτη/khaitē meaning "long flowing hair" with ουρα/oura meaning "tail". [4]
The genus contains 11 species: [5]
A fossil species, Chaetura baconica, was described from Late Miocene deposits of Hungary. [6]