Photo: Don Faulkner / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-chested Swift
Cypseloides lemosi
White-chested Swift (Cypseloides lemosi) — Swifts of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-chested Swift (Cypseloides lemosi) is a member of the Apodidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 28.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Cypseloides
- Species lemosi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-chested Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-chested Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-chested Swift (Cypseloides lemosi) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to ne Ecuador and nw Peru.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.1 g, with a wing length of about 15 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3,578 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-chested Swift?
The White-chested Swift is a small bird that weighs around 28.1 g.
Where does the White-chested Swift live?
The White-chested Swift is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to ne Ecuador and nw Peru, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the White-chested Swift belong to?
The White-chested Swift (Cypseloides lemosi) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-chested Swift eat?
The White-chested Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-chested Swift migrate?
The White-chested Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-chested Swift endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-chested Swift make?
1 real field recording of the White-chested Swift — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-chested Swift's range?
The White-chested Swift has a mapped global range of about 3,578 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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