Great Swallow-tailed Swift
Panyptila sanctihieronymi
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila sanctihieronymi) is a rare swift found in 6 countries, weighing about 48 g. The great swallow-tailed swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae.
About the Great Swallow-tailed Swift
The great swallow-tailed swift is a species of bird in subfamily Apodinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The great swallow-tailed swift is 18 to 20.5 cm (7.1 to 8.1 in) long and weighs about 48 g (1.7 oz). It has long narrow wings and a long deeply forked tail. The sexes are alike. Adults have a black crown and upper face with two white spots on the forehead. Most of their body is bluish black. Their lower face, throat, collar, upper chest, and flanks are white. Their flight feathers have grayish ends and white tips. Voice: Two vocalizations of the great swallow-tailed swift are "a plaintive, subtly bisyllabic teeuw, teeuw" and "a reedy chatter kri-kri-kri-kri-kreeuw-kreee".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Costa Rica.
When to see it
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Great Swallow-tailed Swift?
- The great swallow-tailed swift is 18 to 20.5 cm (7.1 to 8.1 in) long and weighs about 48 g (1.7 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Great Swallow-tailed Swift?
- The Great Swallow-tailed Swift is a small sized bird weighing about 48 g.
- Where can you see a Great Swallow-tailed Swift?
- The Great Swallow-tailed Swift occurs in 6 countries, including Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
- What birds look similar to a Great Swallow-tailed Swift?
- The Great Swallow-tailed Swift is most easily confused with the Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift.
- Is the Great Swallow-tailed Swift endangered?
- The Great Swallow-tailed Swift is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Great Swallow-tailed 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.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.