Short-tailed swift facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Short-tailed swift |
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| flying over Cristalino river, Mato Grosso state, Brazil | |
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| Genus: |
Chaetura
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| Species: |
brachyura
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The short-tailed swift (Chaetura brachyura) is a cool bird that belongs to the swift family. Swifts are known for their amazing flying skills! This bird is often seen flying fast over rivers and open areas in places like Brazil.
About Its Name
This swift was first described in 1846 by a Scottish scientist named Sir William Jardine. He learned about it from someone living in Tobago.
The name Chaetura comes from ancient Greek words. Khaite means "hair," and oura means "tail." So, it's like "hairy tail." The second part of its scientific name, brachyura, also comes from Greek. Brakhus means "short," and ouros means "tailed." So, its full scientific name means "short-tailed hairy tail."
There are four main types, or subspecies, of the short-tailed swift:
- C. b. praevelox: You can find this one in Grenada, Saint Vincent, and Tobago.
- C. b. brachyura: This is the most common type. It lives from Panama down to Trinidad and the Guianas. It also goes south into west-central Brazil and northern Bolivia.
- C. b. ocypetes: This type is found in southwest Ecuador and northwest Peru. Some scientists think this might be its own separate species, called the Tumbes swift.
- C. b. cinereocauda: This one lives in north-central Brazil.
Where It Lives
The short-tailed swift is very common in Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, and Saint Vincent. It also lives in tropical South America. You can find it from Panama, Colombia, and the Guianas. It goes south to Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. In Brazil, it lives across most of the Amazon Basin.
This swift usually stays below 800 meters (about 2,600 feet) above sea level. But sometimes, it has been seen as high as 1,300 meters (about 4,300 feet). It likes many different places. These include savannas, open woodlands, and even farms.
What It Looks Like
The short-tailed swift is a small bird, about 10.5 centimeters (4 inches) long. It weighs around 20 grams, which is about the same as four nickels. It has long, narrow wings and a strong body. As its name suggests, it has a short tail.
Both male and female swifts look very similar. They are mostly black with a lighter, pale area on their rump and tail. You can tell it apart from other swifts by looking at its rump and tail. For example, the band-rumped swift has a much darker tail that stands out more.
How It Behaves
These swifts are very social birds. They like to be in groups. When they are not breeding, they often gather together in large roosts. They make a rapid, chittering sound when they fly. It sounds like "sti-sti-stew-stew-stew."
Life Cycle
The short-tailed swift builds a nest that looks like a shallow half-saucer. It's about 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide. They make it from twigs and their own saliva. They stick this nest to a vertical surface.
They often choose places made by people, like chimneys or manholes. This is similar to their cousin, the chimney swift. But they also use natural spots like caves and hollow trees.
The female swift lays an average of 3 or 4 white eggs, but sometimes up to seven. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. This incubation period lasts for 17 to 18 days. The young birds leave the nest after about two weeks. But they stay close by, clinging to the wall of the nest cavity, for another two weeks before they can fly well.
What It Eats
The short-tailed swift catches its food while flying. It eats different kinds of flying insects. This includes winged ants and termites.
