Ashy-tailed swift

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Ashy-tailed swift
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae
Genus: Chaetura
Species:
C. andrei
Binomial name
Chaetura andrei
Berlepsch & Hartert, 1902
Chaetura andrei map.svg
Synonyms

Chaetura vauxi andrei

The ashy-tailed swift (Chaetura andrei) is a swift which is endemic to northern and central Venezuela.

Taxonomy and systematics[]

The taxonomy of this species is confusing. The larger and far more widespread Sick's swift was previously regarded as a subspecies of the ashy-tailed swift, but Marín (1997) found that Sick's swift is more closely related to the chimney swift.[2] Marín further suggested that the ashy-tailed swift was identical to Vaux's swift of the subspecies aphanes. If following this approach, andrei (with aphanes as a junior synonym) becomes a subspecies of Vaux's swift. This placement, however, was considered mistaken by Restall et al (2006), who state that andrei and aphanes, while virtually identical under normal field conditions, actually do differ and also have different behavior and habitat preferences (ashy-tailed swift prefers forested lowland rivers, while Vaux's swift race aphanes prefers mountain slopes).[3] As of early 2020, taxonomists retained ashy-tailed as a subspecies of Vaux's swift.

A detailed study by Chesser et al (2018) supported Restall et al's assertion that ashy-tailed swift is a separate species from Vaux's swift.[4] Based on those data, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) split ashy-tailed from Vaux's as its own species in June 2020.[5] The International Ornithological Congress (IOC) followed suit in January 2021.[6]

Description[]

Ashy-tailed swift is very similar to the widespread Vaux's swift. It is 11 cm (4.3 in) long and weighs 15–22 g (0.53–0.78 oz). The wings, like those of most swifts, are long and pointed. It is grayish brown overall, paler on the underside. The ashy-tailed's throat and abdomen tend to be browner than those of Vaux's, the back lighter brown, and the rump paler.[4][7]

Distribution and habitat[]

Ashy-tailed swift is endemic to Venezuela, found in deciduous forest of the eastern lowlands and the eastern Coastal Range.[7]

Status[]

The IUCN has classified ashy-tailed swift as Vulnerable due to its estimated population of fewer than 10,000 mature individuals that is declining due to loss of its forest habitat.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2020). "Chaetura andrei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T154632117A181593260. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T154632117A181593260.en. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Marin, M. (1997). "Species limits and distributions of some New World Spine-tailed Swifts (Chaetura spp.)". Ornithological Monographs. 48: 431–443. doi:10.2307/40157546. JSTOR 40157546.
  3. ^ Restall, R.; Rodner, M.; Lentino, M. (2006). Birds of Northern South America. 1 Species Accounts. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-7242-0.
  4. ^ a b Chesser, R.T.; Vaseghi, H.; Hosner, P.A.; Bergner, L.M.; Cortes-Rodriguez, N.; Welch, A.J.; Collins, C.T. (2018). "Molecular systematics of swifts of the genus Chaetura" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 128: 162–171. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.07.006. PMID 30017823.
  5. ^ Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 08 June 2020. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved June 10, 2020
  6. ^ Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (January 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.1)". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Schwitters, L., D. Schwitters, E. L. Bull, and C. T. Collins (2020). Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.vauswi.01 retrieved April 21, 2021


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