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
Whether the white-chinned swift is resident or migratory at any of its locations is unknown.<p>Like all swifts, the white-chinned is an aerial insectivore. Its prey includes Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Homoptera. It usually forages in flocks, often with other swifts.<p>Most information about the white-chinned swift's breeding is from Costa Rica. There it lays eggs from early May into early June. It builds a nest of moss, liverworts, and mud on a rock wall near or behind a waterfall. It is usually in a crevice or under a small overhang and often has overhanging vegetation. The clutch size is one egg. The incubation period is about 30 days and fledging occurs 55 to 58 days after hatch. At the one Brazilian nesting location, nests were active in July. The construction and siting of nests was similar to those in Costa Rica but the incubation length and time to fledging are not known.<p>The white-chinned swift's vocalizations have been described as "sharp chips and more melodious chirping notes; also explosive, staccato clicking notes", and they also make "single dry tick notes".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Rufous-breasted Sabrewing
Campylopterus hyperythrus
Large, conspicuous hummingbird of tepui highlands. Green above and rufous below. Note extensively rufous outer tail feathers, which are easily seen as birds tend to flare tail frequently. Generally common at higher elevations (above 1000 m), especially at forest edge and in lower-stature, scrubby vegetation. Feeds on nectar and pugnaciously defends patches of flowers against other hummingbirds. Not shy and will approach to investigate observers. In territorial interactions, gives a rich, sharp note, often doubled, repeated incessantly, and similar to calls of more widespread Gray-breasted Sabrewing; also gives a single, ascending, burry note, possibly as an alarm call. No other hummingbird in highland range is as large or shows as much rufous.
Papuan Mountain-Pigeon
Gymnophaps albertisii
A distinctive large, long-tailed flocking pigeon. Note the conspicuous red skin around the eye, as well as the pale tail tip, cream breast, dark belly, and blue-gray upperparts, head and throat. Juveniles show a rufous forehead and brown chest. Gregarious, often seen in high-flying flocks above the forest canopy. Principally found in the mountains and foothills, but also in lowlands. Flocking behavior, extensive red facial skin, pale tip to tail, and cream color on breast distinguish this species from Metallic Pigeon. Generally quiet, but sometimes utters a deep “woooom” and a tremulous whistle.
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Fairly large duck with extensive range across Northern Hemisphere. Males are mostly gray with a black rear end and puffy head. Also look for small white wing patch in flight. Females are similar to Mallard, but note thinner bill, plainer face, orange line along the edge of the bill, and white wing patch in flight. Typically found in pairs or small flocks in shallow wetlands, ponds, or bays, sometimes mixed with other species of ducks.
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