Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 5.9–7.1 in
15–18 cm - Weight
- 1–1.3 oz
28–36 g
Other Names
- Martinet à gorge blanche (French)
- Vencejo pecho blanco (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- A highly social creature, the White-throated Swift sleeps in roosts of hundreds of birds, typically in larger cavities in cliffs and large rocks. In the evening they gather above a roost, ascending beyond view and then descend as a group. With a swirling in front of the roost crack, individuals enter the roost several abreast. Occasionally one misses, bouncing off the entrance to rejoin the swirling mass.
Habitat
Mountains
Food
Insects
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Egg Description
- White
Nest Description
Simple cup constructed of felt-like substance made from a variety of materials gathered on the wing, stuck together with gluelike saliva. Attached to vertical cliff wall or on ledge.
Nest Placement
Cliff
Behavior
Aerial Forager
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations may be declining.
Credits
- Ryan, T. P., C. T. Collins. 2000. White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis). In The Birds of North America, No. 526 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.