White-throated Swift
Encyclopedia
The White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) is a swift
of the family Apodidae native to western North America
, south to cordilleran western Honduras
. It is migratory
, and travels to the southern part of its range in winter, as far north along the Pacific coast as the California
n Central Valley; inland its range extends throughout the Great Basin
region to extreme southern British Columbia
.
Reaching a length of 16.5 cm (6.5 inches), with a wingspan of 35.5 cm (14 inches), the White-throated Swift is distinguished from other North American swifts by the whitish throat patch, which extends down to the belly. The upperparts, belly, and sides of the breast are black, and the underwings are gray.
Like all swifts, White-throated Swifts use their short legs only for clinging onto vertical surfaces or wires, and never land on the ground voluntarily.
Swift
The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds...
of the family Apodidae native to western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, south to cordilleran western Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. It is migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, and travels to the southern part of its range in winter, as far north along the Pacific coast as the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n Central Valley; inland its range extends throughout the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
region to extreme southern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Reaching a length of 16.5 cm (6.5 inches), with a wingspan of 35.5 cm (14 inches), the White-throated Swift is distinguished from other North American swifts by the whitish throat patch, which extends down to the belly. The upperparts, belly, and sides of the breast are black, and the underwings are gray.
Like all swifts, White-throated Swifts use their short legs only for clinging onto vertical surfaces or wires, and never land on the ground voluntarily.
External links
- White-throated Swift at Avibase
- White-throated Swift at USGS
- Photo-Medium Res; Article – Cornell Lab species account
- Photo-High Res; Article--(bird photo gallery) – research.amnh.org
- Cornell image
