The white-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis is a swift of the family Apodidae that is endemic to western North America and southern Honduras, with a range that extends south to the Cordillera del Sur in western Honduras. In the inland, it has migratory populations that may be found across the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain areas, going as far north as southern British Columbia. Its coastal range reaches as far north as Northern California, while its inland range extends as far north as Northern California. Roosting places for white-throated swifts can be found in open regions near cliffs, rock walls, or man-made structures, where they can be seen flying around in circles. Swifts are highly gregarious birds, and it is common to observe groups of them roosting and hunting for flying insects at the same time.
Quick Overview: Aeronautes Saxatalis – White-Throated Swift
Body size: Around 6-7 in (15-18 cm) and a weight of 31 g (1.1 oz)
Main colors: Brown, Black, White
Range: Rocky Mountains of United States
Migratory Bird: Yes
Best time of the year to see in the U.S.: June, July, August, September
Conservation Status: Least Concern
White-Throated swift Description
Known as the swift, it is a medium-sized airborne bird that is a fantastic flyer with white underparts. It even has a place to sleep on the wing! It is a basic sooty brown color on the ground, but when flying against the sky, it seems black. It has long, scythe-like wings and a short, forked tail, which gives it its name.\
Size
These birds have a length of 6-7 in (15-18 cm) and a weight of 31 g (1.1 oz). Their wings could range from 13-14 in (33-36 cm).
Feeding
White-throated Swifts prey on insects and spiders that they catch in their mouths while soaring through the air. Acrobatic and dizzyingly swift in flight, they frequently turn suddenly to sweep back through a very insect-rich region of the air column.
Habitat
The White-throated Swift is a bird found in the western United States that lives on steep cliffs and canyons. It is most commonly seen nesting in dry environments, however, it may also be found near big rivers. It may be found on the cliffs of the sea. Because these swifts frequently travel far from their breeding grounds in search of food, their foraging habitat is more diverse than their nesting habitat.
Behavior
When White-throated Swifts return to their nesting grounds in the spring, they immediately begin aerial courting in couples or small groups, chasing each other around the skies along nesting cliffs while calling often. When they are in pairs, one will chase the other, which causes the wings to lift into a V form for a few seconds.
Aeronautes Saxatalis Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Apodiformes
- Family: Apodidae
- Genus: Aeronautes
- Species: Aeronautes saxatalis
Best time of the year to see
The best time to see these birds in the United States is during the summer season (June – September).
Distribution of the White-throated swift in the USA
Breeds from southern British Columbia to the Rocky Mountains and throughout the southwest, from California to New Mexico. Spends winters from southern California and the southwestern states to Central America.
The White-throated swift can be found in the following states in the United States – Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
