White-chinned Swift
Cypseloides cryptus
Medium-sized, dark swift. Infrequently seen, patchily distributed, and extremely difficult to identify. Note short, square tail, and overall dark gray color. Limited whitish frosting on chin and lores is nearly impossible to see in the field, and even difficult to confidently assess from photos. Often shows some whitish scaling around the vent. Spot-fronted Swift is very similar but, with a good view, shows larger white spots on the face and behind the eye. However, juvenile plumage of both species is poorly known and causes even more confusion. White-chinned occurs from Belize south to Peru and east to the Guianas, and can be found at a wide elevation range, from 3,000 m all the way down to the lowlands. Often found in mixed flocks with other swifts, including White-collared, Chestnut-collared, and Spot-fronted.
Identification
The white-chinned swift is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long and weighs about 35 g (1.2 oz). The sexes are alike. They have a dark brown crown and cheeks, a short white streak above the eye, a white chin, and a dark brown throat. Their back and rump are blackish brown and the wings and tail slightly darker. Their undersides are paler than the back and rump and the underside of the wing is paler than the upper side.
Taxonomy
The white-chinned swift is monotypic. Some authors consider it and the white-fronted swift (Cypseloides storeri) to form a superspecies. Others consider it more closely related to the sooty swift (C. fumigatus) and Rothschild's swift (C. rothschildi) or that all three of them are a single species.
- Scientific name
- Cypseloides cryptus
- Authority
- Zimmer, JT, 1945
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Cypseloides
Range and habitat
The white-chinned swift is widely but very patchily distributed. It has been confirmed to nest only in Costa Rica and at one location in northern Brazil. There are sight records in Mexico and very few confirmed records in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. There are somewhat more records in Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It has occurred as a vagrant in French Guiana and there is at least one sight record in Bolivia.<p>The white-chinned swift has mostly been recorded over evergreen montane and lowland forests, but also occurs at pastures and young secondary forest. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 3,000 m (9,800 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
North Melanesian Cuckooshrike
Coracina welchmani
A large, thick-set, entirely black cuckooshrike. Long-tailed, with a relatively stubby bill. Resident in forests, usually in foothills and lowlands, especially coastal forest. Unlikely to be confused, but Common Cicadabird is smaller and paler sooty-gray, and Barred Cuckooshrike has a pale eye. North Melanesian Cuckooshrike’s most common call is a long descending whistle, often followed by a shrill “chii.”
Golden Pheasant
Chrysolophus pictus
Shy and surprisingly difficult to find in mixed and conifer woodland, where it runs quickly from detected disturbance. Red-and-gold male stunning and unmistakable. Female differs from Common Pheasant in strongly barred plumage, dull pinkish (not gray) legs and feet and from Lady Amherst’s Pheasant in lighter barring, more orangeish coloration, and the lack of a bare patch of gray skin behind the eye. Native to China but introduced very locally in Britain and Hawaii; however, captive birds might escape anywhere.
California Quail
Callipepla californica
Small and rotund with obvious teardrop-shaped plumes protruding from forehead. Looks gray and brown at a distance, with white streaks on the sides and a scaly belly. Males have black face and longer, more curled crest than females. Usually seen in flocks running on the ground in open, scrubby habitats. Listen for frequent, three-noted call, audible at long distances. Separated from similar Gambel’s Quail by range; also note California has scaly belly with rusty (not black) patch and duller brown crown and sides. Native to western North America including Baja California; well-established introduced populations in Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
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