Aeronautes saxatalis
(White-throated Swift)

Physical Description:
6-7" (15-18 cm). Barn Swallow-sized. Adults mostly black, with white throat sometimes extending to the breast; white mid-belly and flank patches; grayish-white face; area around eye dark.

Similar Species- Black, Vaux's, and Chimney Swifts

Song:
Call is a prolonged shrill, chattering jejejeje, in descending scale.

Distribution:
Breeds from southwestern Canada, east to Montana, upper Great Plains states, southeastern Wyoming, eastern Colorado, New Mexico, and western Texas, west to southern California and central Arizona, and south to Central America. Winters from central California and central Arizona, south to limits of breeding range.

Habitat:
Found primarily in mountainous country, especially near cliffs and canyons.

Diet:
Catches flying insects such as flies, beetles, bees, winged ants, and bugs.

Ecology:
Builds nest in deep crevice in rock wall, or occasionally, in building. Forms small nesting colonies. Fastest of North American swifts. Can become torpid during cold periods. Exhibits spectacular aerial courtship display.

copulation occurs in air. clutch size varies from 3-6 eggs, but is usually 4-5.

Conservation:

Element Code:	ABNUA06010
Status:	Protected nongame species
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S4
National Rank:	N5B,N4N

Important State References:
No references are available at this time.