chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 5 inches Wingspan: 12.5 inches

• Sexes similar

• Juvenile similar to adult

• small aerial bird with cigar-shaped body and crescent-shaped wings

• Short tail bluntly squared off

• Plumage sooty gray above with slightly paler rump

• Buff throat darkening to sooty gray on belly

• Underwings pale gray

Similar species:

All swallows have longer tails, usually with a notch or fork, and broader
wings. Black swift and white-throated swift have forked tails and dif-

ferent patterning below. Vaux's swift is extremely similar but is some-

what smaller, with shorter wings, a paler rump and throat, and a different

call.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Neotropical migrant
Breeding Habitat: Urban
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 3-6
Length of Incubation: 19-21 days
Days to Fledge: 28-30
Number of Broods: 1?
Diet: Exclusively insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August U
      Fall: September, October, November U

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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