Vaux's Swift

Chaetura vauxiOrder: APODIFORMESFamily: Swifts (Apodidae)
Vaux's Swift Portrait
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Range Map for Vaux's Swift

Overview

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.

Range and 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.

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Listen:

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Voice Text

"chip-chip-chip-cheweet-cheweet"

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Related Birds:

White-throated Swift
White-collared Swift
Chimney Swift
Black Swift
White-throated Needletail
Common Swift
.

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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