Photo: Michael Woodruff from Spokane, Washington, USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-throated Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis
White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) — Swifts of North America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 32.1 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 Aeronautes
- Species saxatalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-throated Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-throated Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA w.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32.1 g, with a wing length of about 14 cm and a tail of around 6.4 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 4.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-throated Swift?
The White-throated Swift is a small bird that weighs around 32.1 g.
Where does the White-throated Swift live?
The White-throated Swift is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA w, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-throated Swift belong to?
The White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-throated Swift eat?
The White-throated Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-throated Swift migrate?
The White-throated Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-throated 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-throated Swift make?
1 real field recording of the White-throated Swift — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-throated Swift's range?
The White-throated Swift has a mapped global range of about 4.1 million 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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