Photo: Joseph Wolf / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Great Swallow-tailed Swift
Panyptila sanctihieronymi
Great Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila sanctihieronymi) — Swifts of Central America & Caribbean.
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The Great Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila sanctihieronymi) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 48.1 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 Panyptila
- Species sanctihieronymi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 48.1 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 Great Swallow-tailed 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 Great Swallow-tailed Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila sanctihieronymi) belongs to the Apodidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA sw Mexico to Honduras.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 48.1 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 8.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 367,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Great Swallow-tailed Swift?
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 48.1 g.
Where does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift live?
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA sw Mexico to Honduras, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift belong to?
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila sanctihieronymi) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift eat?
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Great Swallow-tailed Swift migrate?
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Great Swallow-tailed 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 Great Swallow-tailed Swift's range?
The Great Swallow-tailed Swift has a mapped global range of about 367,000 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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