Tepui Swift
Streptoprocne phelpsi
Large, dark swift of tepui highlands. Note generally dark appearance, broad wings, and forked tail. If seen in good light, chestnut collar of adult is diagnostic; otherwise this species may be difficult to distinguish from other large swifts, especially at a distance. Found around the tepuis and down to at least 400 meters in the surrounding region. Forages high for insects, often with other swifts; may descend to just above treetop level to feed on swarms of emerging winged ants and termites. In poor light, most similar to White-chinned Swift but has more deeply forked tail.
Identification
The tepui swift is one of the smaller members of genus Streptoprocne. It is 14 to 16 cm (5.5 to 6.3 in) long and weighs about 20 to 24 g (0.71 to 0.85 oz). It has a long deeply notched tail and long broad wings. Adult males' most obvious feature is the wide orange-chestnut collar that encircles the neck and includes the upper breast, chin, throat, and most of the face. The rest of its plumage is sooty black, at times with a few white feathers on the breast below the collar. Adult females are similar to males though some have a paler breast with brown mixed in. Immatures resemble adults with the addition of pale gray edges to the underparts' feathers.
Taxonomy
What is now the tepui swift was first collected in the 19th century but was not recognized as a separate species until 1972. It was originally assigned to genus Cypseloides but by the 2000s was reassigned to Streptoprocne. It and the chestnut-collared swift (C. rutila) form a superspecies. Its specific epithet honors William H. Phelps Jr.<p>The tepui swift is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Streptoprocne phelpsi
- Authority
- (Collins, 1972)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Streptoprocne
Range and habitat
The tepui swift is found in the tepui area where southeastern Venezuela, western Guyana, and far northwestern Brazil meet. One individual has been documented in far northern Venezuela; it is not known if it was a vagrant or a migrant. The species is found in humid montane and lowland forests, montane grasslands, and around cliffs. In elevation it mostly ranges between 200 and 2,200 m (660 and 7,200 ft) but has occurred as high as 2,630 m (8,600 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The tepui swift is thought to be a year-round resident in its range but reports from elsewhere hint at the possibility that it is migratory.<p>Like all swifts, the tepui is an aerial insectivore, but little is known about the details of its diet. It often feeds in flocks of 10 to 20 or more that sometimes include white-collared swifts (Streptoprocne zonaris).<p>The tepui swift's breeding biology is not well known. It apparently mostly nests in the northern hemisphere's late spring and early summer, though a nest with a nearly full grown nestling was photographed in early September. Few nests have been found; they were on cliffs and in rocky grottos. The early September nest was a cup of rootlets and moss on a rock shelf in a cave. There is some suggestion that the species nests in colonies.<p>The tepui swift appears to have two flight calls, "a squeak followed by a trill and short squeals, squeek, titititititititi sui, squi, squi..." and "a slow series of reedy or hissing tic notes".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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