Photo: in Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Andean Swift
Aeronautes andecolus
Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus) — Swifts of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus) is a member of the Apodidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 17.6 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 andecolus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Andean Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Andean Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Peru to c Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.6 g, with a wing length of about 14 cm and a tail of around 6.2 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 891,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Andean Swift?
The Andean Swift is a small bird that weighs around 17.6 g.
Where does the Andean Swift live?
The Andean Swift is found across South America with a range covering SA Peru to c Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Andean Swift belong to?
The Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Andean Swift eat?
The Andean Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Andean Swift migrate?
The Andean Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Andean 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 Andean Swift make?
1 real field recording of the Andean 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 Andean Swift's range?
The Andean Swift has a mapped global range of about 891,000 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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