Vaux's Swift

Chaetura vauxiOrder: APODIFORMESFamily: Swifts (Apodidae)
Vaux's Swift Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown color: Tan
  • Forehead color: Brown
  • Nape Color: Gray-brown
  • Throat color: Buff
  • Cere color:
Vaux's Swift Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 10-11 cm (4-4.5 in)
  • Weight: 17 g (0.6 oz)
  • Size: Size 1. Very Small (3 - 5 in)
  • Color: Brown, Gray
  • Underparts: Pale Gray
  • Upperparts: Gray-brown
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Vaux's Swift Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Fast low flight.
  • Wingspan Range: 29 cm (11.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Long-Wings, Tapered-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Gray-brown
  • Under Tail: Gray-brown
  • Leg color: Gray
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Family Swift (Apodidae)_blue
Species Chaetura vauxi
Length4 - 4.5 Inches
Wingspan11.5 Inches

Vaux's Swift

Vaux's Swift: Small swift, gray-brown body, sometimes highlighted by slight green iridescence. Rump is pale brown, throat and breast are nearly white. Bill, legs, feet are gray-black. Flight is low and fast, alternates bursts of quick fluttery wing beats with short glides. Catches insects in flight.

● Song: "chip-chip-chip-cheweet-cheweet"

● Foraging & Feeding: Vaux's Swift: Eats insects and spiders; forages in flight.

● Breeding & nesting: Vaux's Swift: Three to six white eggs are laid in a nest made of small sticks cemented together with saliva and attached to the inside surface of a hollow tree. Incubation ranges from 18 to 20 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Vaux's Swift: Black-and-white-throated Swift has forked tail. Chimney Swift is larger with longer wings, darker rump and throat, and a different call.

Flight Pattern

Fast low flight.
Vaux's Swift Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Vaux's Swift: Breeds from southeastern Alaska and Montana to central California. Spends winters in the tropics. Preferred habitats include old growth coniferous or deciduous forests consisting of coniferous and deciduous vegetation; requires large, hollow trees for nesting.
BreedingMonogamous, Loose colonies
PopulationFairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.6 Ounces