Photo: Spring Fed Images spring_fed_images / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Black Swift
Cypseloides niger
American Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) — Swifts of North America.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 39.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Cypseloides
- Species niger
Quick facts
- Weight
- 39.7 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 American Black 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 American Black Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The American Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA w.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 39.7 g, with a wing length of about 14.9 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Black Swift?
The American Black Swift is a small bird that weighs around 39.7 g.
Where does the American Black Swift live?
The American Black Swift is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA w, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the American Black Swift belong to?
The American Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the American Black Swift eat?
The American Black Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the American Black Swift migrate?
The American Black Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the American Black Swift endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the American Black Swift make?
1 real field recording of the American Black 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 American Black Swift's range?
The American Black Swift has a mapped global range of about 1.3 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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