Great dusky swift facts for kids
Quick facts for kids great dusky swift |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cypseloides
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| Species: |
senex
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| Synonyms | |
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Aerornis senex |
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The great dusky swift (Cypseloides senex) is a fascinating bird that belongs to the swift family. Swifts are known for their amazing flying skills! You can find this bird in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and maybe even Bolivia.
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About the Great Dusky Swift
This bird is the only one of its kind in its specific group, meaning it doesn't have any close relatives that are also called "great dusky swifts."
What Does It Look Like?
The great dusky swift is the biggest bird in its group, called Cypseloides. It grows to about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. This bird weighs between 56 and 110 grams (about 2 to 4 ounces). Both male and female great dusky swifts look alike.
Adults have a chocolate brown head and throat. The edges of their face feathers are pale gray, which makes their face look a bit "frosted." Their back is a darker brown, and their tail is blackish-brown. Their belly and chest are a lighter brown than their back. The top of their wings is mostly brown, and the underside is a bit lighter. Young swifts look very much like the adults, but they have light edges on their wing feathers.
Where Does It Live?
The great dusky swift lives in Brazil, especially in the southern and central parts. You can also find it in eastern Paraguay and in northeastern Argentina's Misiones Province. Some people have seen it in Bolivia, but this hasn't been fully confirmed yet.
These birds love to live in tropical evergreen forests and other types of forests. They also live in areas where new plants are growing after older trees have been cut down. A cool fact about them is that they often rest and roost around waterfalls. They are even known for flying right through the amazing Iguazu Falls!
Great Dusky Swift Behavior
Migration and Movement
Scientists believe that the great dusky swift stays in the same areas all year long. It doesn't seem to migrate, or travel, to different places during the seasons.
What Do They Eat?
Like all swifts, the great dusky swift catches and eats insects while flying. This means they are "aerial insectivores." We don't know all the details of their diet, but they eat insects from at least five different families. They often fly and feed together in groups. Sometimes, they even join flocks of white-collared swifts!
Reproduction and Nests
Great dusky swifts build their nests in large groups, called colonies. They usually choose a cliff, either right next to or behind a waterfall. Their nests are made of moss and small pebbles. They use mud to stick everything together, making a strong home for their young.
How Do They Sound?
The main sound the great dusky swift makes is described as a "ti-ti-ti" sound. This is usually followed by a buzzing noise, like "tirr-tshaarr."
Status and Conservation
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the great dusky swift and decided it is a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not worried about it becoming endangered anytime soon. This bird lives in a very large area, and even though we don't know exactly how many there are, their population seems to be stable.
There aren't any big threats to the great dusky swift right now. However, building dams could be a problem in the future. Dams can flood waterfalls, and this might affect the places where these birds breed and rest.
See also
In Spanish: Vencejo de cascada para niños
