• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

White-chested Swift - BirdForum Opus

Cypseloides lemosi

Identification

With 14cm a medium sized Swift, first described only in 1962.

  • Blackish plumage
  • Broad, long wings
  • Forked tail
  • Forhead slightly paler with a diagnostic white chest patch
  • Reduced chest patch in female, also tail-fork shallower
  • Juvenile similar to female

Distribution

Found in South America. Restricted range species: SW Colombia (upper Cauca Valley, Cauca and Valle departments), also recorded in NC Colombia, NE Ecuador and NW Peru
Known only from some specimens and field sightings. Classified as vulnerable.

Taxonomy

Forms a superspecies with Black Swift, Rothschild's Swift and Sooty Swift. Formerly placed in genus Nephoecetes.
Monotypic.

Habitat

Presumably secondary forest and scrub in the Central Andean foothills. Recorded mostly between 1000 and 1300m.

Behaviour

Feeds on insects, taken in flight. Usually seen in small flocks, together with other Swifts.
Nothing known about breeding season, nests or nestplaces.
Suspected to be resident.

External Links

Back
Top