American Black Swift
A species of Typical Primitive American Swifts Scientific name : Cypseloides niger Genus : Typical Primitive American Swifts
American Black Swift, A species of Typical Primitive American Swifts
Botanical name: Cypseloides niger
Genus: Typical Primitive American Swifts
Content
Description General Info
Photo By BJ Stacey , used under CC-BY-NC /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The American black swift, or more simply black swift (Cypseloides niger), is a species of bird that is found from northern British Columbia in Canada through the United States and Mexico to Costa Rica and Brazil. They are also found in the Caribbean. 
Size
18-19 cm (7-7.5 in)
Colors
Black
Gray
Life Expectancy
16 years
Nest Placement
Cliff
Clutch Size
1 egg
Incubation Period
1 brood
Number of Broods
23 - 30 days
Nestling Period
45 - 50 days
Feeding Habits
American Black Swift consumes flying insects, mainly winged ants and beetles, caught midair. Foraging altitude varies: high on clear days, lower near the ground when cloudy. American Black Swift hydrates by skimming water bodies, dipping their bill while in flight. Often forages in small groups.
Habitat
American Black Swift is typically found in rugged terrains where cliffs and water sources, such as waterfalls or the ocean, are present. These birds prefer nesting on high cliff faces, often connected to aquatic environments, including oceanic coastlines and waterfalls. They adapt to a wide range of altitudes, from sea level to 12,100 feet in various regions, including British Columbia, California, and Oaxaca, Mexico. The habitat comprises both open spaces where they forage, such as forests and grasslands, and the specific nesting sites that feature vegetation like moss, twigs, ferns, and seaweed for constructing their nests.
Nest Behavior
American Black Swift engage in nest building and egg-laying in time with the rainy season, which offers ample mud for nest construction. They may form small colonies on shared ledges, and are known to reuse nests across years. Both parents partake in incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Nest Characteristics
American Black Swift typically selects cliff and rock ledges behind waterfalls for nest placement, favoring dark, inaccessible spots. They construct a cup-shaped moss and mud nest, approximately 5.5 x 4 inches and less than 1 inch deep, without utilizing saliva.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Behavior
American Black Swift are avian masters of the air, spending much of their life in flight, engaging in various activities such as foraging and social interactions. Rarely alighting except for nesting, they are skilled at clinging to vertical surfaces like rock climbers. Their flight pattern is characterized by steady, even wingbeats, setting them apart from their more erratic kin. Socially inclined, american Black Swift often congregate in loose colonies and migrate collectively, sometimes with other swifts and swallows. They exhibit unique aerial displays during confrontations and courtship, such as feet-grasping tumbles and high-speed pursuits, indicative of their complex social structures and possible long-term monogamous pairing.
Species Status
VULNERABLE. Until recently, was considered Least Concern. Abundance varies throughout range. Locally frequent to common in Mexico, rare and very localized in California.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Swifts and hummingbirds Family
Swifts Species
American Black Swift 
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