Cypseloides storeri
The White-fronted Swift (Cypseloides storeri) is a rather small, enigmatic swift, measuring approximately 12-13 cm in length with a wingspan of around 30-32 cm and weighing roughly 20-25 grams. Its plumage is uniformly sooty-black, offset by a distinctive, contrasting white patch on its forehead and throat, which can appear more extensive and brighter on males. This striking white mask serves as its primary field mark, differentiating it from other dark swifts found in its range. Taxonomicall...
Primarily found in humid montane evergreen and pine-oak forests, often near cliffs and waterfalls, at elevations typically ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 meters.
An obligate aerial insectivore, feeding exclusively on a wide variety of flying insects caught during continuous, agile flight.
The White-fronted Swift exhibits typical swift behavior, spending the majority of its day in rapid, acrobatic flight foraging for insects. Roosting occurs communally in the same dark, damp caves or crevices used for nesting, often in considerable numbers. They are colonial breeders, constructing ...
The White-fronted Swift is endemic to Mexico, primarily distributed along the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges. Its core breeding range extends from the state of Nayarit and Jalisco in the west, south through Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, eastward into Chiapas....
Least Concern
- The White-fronted Swift is one of the most poorly known swift species, often described as "cryptic" due to its remote habitat and challenging observation conditions. - Its name comes from the distinctive white patch on its forehead and throat, which is a key identification feature against its d...