Lesser Antillean Swift

Chaetura martinica

Lesser Antillean Swift (Chaetura martinica) — Swifts of North America.

The Lesser Antillean Swift (Chaetura martinica) is a member of the Apodidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 12.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae Swifts
Genus Chaetura
Species martinica

Where it lives

Lesser Antilles

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 12.5 g
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Apodidae
Order: Apodiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Lesser Antillean Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Lesser Antillean Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Lesser Antillean Swift (Chaetura martinica) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA Lesser Antilles.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.5 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 3.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4,342 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Lesser Antillean Swift?

The Lesser Antillean Swift is a very small bird that weighs around 12.5 g.

Where does the Lesser Antillean Swift live?

The Lesser Antillean Swift is found across North America with a range covering NA Lesser Antilles, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Lesser Antillean Swift belong to?

The Lesser Antillean Swift (Chaetura martinica) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.

What does the Lesser Antillean Swift eat?

The Lesser Antillean Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Lesser Antillean Swift migrate?

The Lesser Antillean Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Lesser Antillean 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.

How large is the Lesser Antillean Swift's range?

The Lesser Antillean Swift has a mapped global range of about 4,342 km².