Andean swift facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andean swift |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aeronautes
|
| Species: |
andecolus
|
 |
|
| Global range Year-Round Range Summer Range Winter Range | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Andean swift (Aeronautes andecolus) is a cool bird that belongs to the swift family. Swifts are known for their amazing flying skills! You can find this bird living in parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
Contents
About the Andean Swift
The Andean swift is a type of bird in the swift family, called Apodidae. It's known for its fast flight and spending most of its life in the air.
Swift Family Tree
Scientists group animals into different families. The Andean swift is part of the Aeronautes group. There are three slightly different kinds, or subspecies, of the Andean swift. These are like different versions of the same bird.
- A. a. andecolus (the main type)
- A. a. parvulus
- A. a. peruvianus
What Does the Andean Swift Look Like?
The Andean swift is about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long. It has very pointed wings, which help it fly so well. Its tail is long and deeply forked, like a "V" shape.
Colors and Patterns
Both male and female Andean swifts look alike. Most of their upper body is black. They have a white band around their neck and another white band on their lower back. Their face and belly are mostly white or off-white. Some parts, like their sides, might have a buff, mottled color.
Subspecies Differences
The A. a. parvulus subspecies is a bit smaller. Its black and white colors are very clear and sharp. The A. a. peruvianus is also smaller than the main type. It has a shorter, less forked tail. Its white feathers are brighter, and the feathers under its tail are darker.
Where Do Andean Swifts Live?
Andean swifts live in the Andes mountains of South America. Each subspecies lives in a specific area.
Andean Swift Habitats
These birds mostly live in dry, scrubby mountain areas. But you can also find them in places that are a bit wetter or drier. Sometimes, they fly over forested mountain slopes.
Mountain Homes
Andean swifts usually live at high elevations. In Peru and Bolivia, they are often found between 2,500 and 3,550 meters (8,200 and 11,650 feet) high. In Argentina, they live a bit lower, between 2,000 and 2,500 meters (6,560 and 8,200 feet). They have even been seen above 4,100 meters (13,450 feet) in Peru!
How Do Andean Swifts Behave?
Staying in One Place
Andean swifts usually stay in the same areas all year round. They don't migrate long distances. However, they might fly to lower places if there's a lot of snow.
What Do They Eat?
Like all swifts, the Andean swift eats insects while flying. They catch bugs right out of the air! We don't know all the details about what they eat, but they often hunt in groups. Sometimes, they even join flocks of other swifts, like the chimney swift, during winter.
Nesting and Babies
Scientists don't know much about how Andean swifts raise their young. They have been seen nesting in holes on steep rock faces. Some nests are even found behind waterfalls! But the actual nests themselves haven't been studied much.
Andean Swift Sounds
The most common sound the Andean swift makes is a buzzing, scratchy call. It sounds like "tzee-tz-tz-trrr...tzee-tz-tz-tzee...". They also make a series of single notes, like "tzree..tzree..tzree...".
Andean Swift Status
The IUCN is an organization that checks on how many animals are left in the wild. They have listed the Andean swift as a species of "Least Concern." This means that for now, there are plenty of them, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
The Andean swift lives across a large area. Even though we don't know the exact number of birds, their population seems to be stable. There are no big threats to them right now. They are generally common, though they might be harder to find in northern Chile and some parts of Argentina.
