Chaetura brachyura
The Short-tailed Swift (Chaetura brachyura) is a diminutive yet dynamic aerialist of the Neotropics, recognized by its cigar-shaped body, exceptionally short, square tail with projecting feather shafts, and pointed, stiffly-beating wings. Averaging 10.5-11.5 cm in length and weighing 10-15 grams, its plumage is a uniform sooty-brown, slightly paler on the rump and undertail coverts, creating a subtle contrast. This compact structure, combined with its distinctive rapid, flickering flight, aid...
This species primarily inhabits lowland tropical and subtropical evergreen forests, secondary growth, clearings, and often areas near water bodies. It can be found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 1,500 meters, occasionally venturing into disturbed or urban environments for roosti...
The Short-tailed Swift is an obligate aerial insectivore, feeding exclusively on a wide variety of flying insects. Its diet primarily consists of small Diptera (flies), Hymenoptera (ants, wasps), Coleoptera (beetles), and other airborne arthropods, which it expertly captures mid-flight.
Short-tailed Swifts are highly gregarious birds, often observed foraging and roosting in large, chattering flocks. They are diurnal, spending nearly their entire active period in continuous, rapid flight, exhibiting a distinctive stiff-winged, flickering beat. Roosting typically occurs communally...
The Short-tailed Swift boasts an extensive Neotropical distribution, encompassing southern Central America and much of northern South America. Its range extends from southeastern Costa Rica and Panama, across Trinidad and Tobago, and through vast regions of Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuad...
Least Concern
- The Short-tailed Swift is the smallest member of the Chaetura genus, making its already compact form a distinctive identification feature. - Its scientific name, brachyura, is derived from Greek, literally meaning "short-tailed," perfectly describing its most notable physical trait. - Like othe...