
Vaux's (rhymes with foxes) Swift is the smallest regularly occurring swift in North America. The tail is very short, and the wings appear shorter than those of the similar Chimney Swift. The bird is dark gray-brown overall, paler on the throat, breast and rump.
Length: 11 (cm) Wingspan: 29 (cm)
Voice:
Call is a very high rapid twittering.
Habitat:
Mature coniferous and mixed forest. Common in urban areas adjacent to forest habitats. Uses hollow trees and chimneys for nesting and roosting.
Behavior:
Flies with rapid wing-beats. Does not glide often. During fall migration, flocks numbering into the tens of thousands gather nightly at traditional roosts, forming a large vortex and then funneling into massive brick and concrete chimneys that can be found on old schools, churches, and abandoned factories (see Shawneen Finnegan's "Swifts Come Back To School" published in our online journal on 12 April 2009).
Feeding:
Captures insects in flight.
Field Notes
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
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Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
09/18/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/11/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/11/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/04/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/04/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/14/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/14/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/07/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/07/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/24/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/24/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/10/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Bob Archer added Vaux's Swift to their Sandy River Delta smart list | 4/29/2013 at 7:49AM |
dawn villaescusa added Vaux's Swift to their Salem, Oregon smart list | 5/01/2012 at 11:09PM |
Dan Mitchell added Vaux's Swift to their Mitchell's Backyard, Tigard, Oregon smart list | 8/07/2011 at 9:10AM |
Shawneen Finnegan added Vaux's Swift to their Chapman Elementary School, Portland smart list | 5/20/2011 at 10:13PM |