How do you identify an Andean Swift?

The Andean swift is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is an Andean Swift?

The Andean Swift is a small sized bird weighing about 18 g.

Where can you see an Andean Swift?

The Andean Swift occurs in 4 countries, including Peru, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

What birds look similar to an Andean Swift?

The Andean Swift is most easily confused with the White-tipped Swift and the White-throated Swift.

Is the Andean Swift endangered?

The Andean Swift is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Andean Swift

Aeronautes andecolus

Swifts · Apodiformes · Rare

The Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus) is a rare swift found in 4 countries, weighing about 18 g. The Andean swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae.

Least ConcernRareEats invertebratesshrublandcavity nest18 g

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 1 — Photo: veonatura · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 2 — Photo: Sebastián de Jesús Herrera Buenfil · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 3 — Photo: Valentín Alfano · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 4 — Photo: Valentín Alfano · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 5 — Photo: Valentín Alfano · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 6 — Photo: Valentín Alfano · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 7 — Photo: Pablo H Capovilla · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 8 — Photo: Nicolas Olejnik · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 9 — Photo: Nicolas Olejnik · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus), photo 10 — Photo: Johannes S. · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

About the Andean Swift

The Andean swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Andean swift is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. It has sharply pointed wings and a long deeply forked tail. The sexes are alike. Adults of the nominate subspecies have mostly black upperparts with a white collar and band on the rump. Their face and underparts are mostly white to off-white with mottled buff on the flanks and vent. Subspecies A. a. parvulus is smaller than the nominate and the borders between black and white areas are very sharply defined. A. a. peruvianus is also smaller than the nominate. Voice: The Andean swift's most common vocalization is "a buzzy, grating 'tzee-tz-tz-trrr...tzee-tz-tz-tzee...'." It also makes "a series of single notes 'tzree..tzree..tzree...'."

Where it lives

Peru Argentina Chile Bolivia

When to see it

The Andean Swift can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify an Andean Swift?: The Andean swift is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is an Andean Swift?: The Andean Swift is a small sized bird weighing about 18 g.
Where can you see an Andean Swift?: The Andean Swift occurs in 4 countries, including Peru, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.
What birds look similar to an Andean Swift?: The Andean Swift is most easily confused with the White-tipped Swift and the White-throated Swift.
Is the Andean Swift endangered?: The Andean Swift is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Andean Swift for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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