- Cypseloides senex
Identification
With 18cm a large Cyspeloides Swift.
- Plumage brown with paler forehead and paler rump
- Long broad wings
- Bulky body
- Square tail, sometimes slightly rounded
Distribution
Found in South America. Northern Argentina (Misiones), Central and Southern Brazil and Eastern Paraguay. Also recorded in North-Eastern Bolivia where it may breed. Unconfirmed sightings in Peru.
Sightings of this species are almost guaranteed along the lower trail at Iguazu Falls in Argentina.
Common in most part of its range and not globally threatened.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Placed by some authorities in genus Aerornis, sometimes together with White-naped Swift.
Habitat
Found around waterfalls which it uses for breeding and roosting. From lowlands up to 1000m.
Behaviour
Clings to vertical walls next to, or behind active waterfalls in small colonies. Like other Swifts a gregarious species, feeding usually high over the forest canopy, often together with White-collared Swift.
Diet
Feeds on insects, taken in flight.
Breeding
Breeds in colonies, near or even behind waterfalls. Unlike other species the Great Dusky Swift also breeds in direct sunlight. The nest is a disc-shaped conem made of moss and pebbles, hold together with mud.
Movements
Possibly resident. Some authors suggest transequatorial migration, more study needed.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Great Dusky Swift. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Great_Dusky_Swift
