Chestnut-collared Swift

Chestnut-collared Swift
Male
Information
Range	Mexico and Trinidad south to Peru and Bolivia.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Class	Aves
Order	Apodiformes
Family	Apodidae
Genus	Streptoprocne
Species	Streptoprocne rutila
Conservation Status
Least Concern

The Chestnut-collared swift (Streptoprocne rutila), is a species of resident breeding swift from Mexico and Trinidad south to Peru and Bolivia. It was one of the species of Cypseloides controversially moved to Streptoprocne by the American Ornithologists' Union (BLI 2004).

Description

This swift is a medium-sized species, 12.7-13.5 cm long, with a longish tail, and weighing 20 g. The male is blackish with a rufous collar. In females and immatures the rufous collar is incomplete or absent. Young birds also differ from the females in that they have reddish edges to the crown feathers. The Chestnut-collared Swift has a chattering chit-chit-chit call.

Behavior

Breeding

The chestnut-collared swift builds a nest of mud and plant material on a vertical surface in a damp shady location near water, such as in a cave, under a bridge, or in a culvert. The nest is shaped like a flattened cone, and the two white eggs are incubated by both sexes for 23 days, with a further 40 days to fledging. The young are fed on foodballs made from the collected prey.

Feeding

Chestnut-collared swifts feed in flight on flying insects, especially flying ants, often at a greater height than other swifts. Although breeding occurs at all levels where there are suitable sites, this species usually feeds over hill forests or more open woodland at 500 m or more.

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognised:

Image	Name
	Streptoprocne rutila brunnitorques (Lafresnaye, 1844)
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	Streptoprocne rutila griseifrons (Nelson, 1900)
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	Streptoprocne rutila rutila (Vieillot, 1817)
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