Pygmy Palm Swift
Tachornis furcata
Pygmy Palm Swift (Tachornis furcata) — Swifts of South America.
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The Pygmy Palm Swift (Tachornis furcata) is a member of the Apodidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 6.5 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 Tachornis
- Species furcata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pygmy Palm 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 Pygmy Palm Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pygmy Palm Swift (Tachornis furcata) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Colombia and w Venezuela.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.5 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 33,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pygmy Palm Swift?
The Pygmy Palm Swift is a very small bird that weighs around 6.5 g.
Where does the Pygmy Palm Swift live?
The Pygmy Palm Swift is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Colombia and w Venezuela, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Pygmy Palm Swift belong to?
The Pygmy Palm Swift (Tachornis furcata) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Pygmy Palm Swift eat?
The Pygmy Palm Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pygmy Palm Swift migrate?
The Pygmy Palm Swift is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pygmy Palm 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 Pygmy Palm Swift's range?
The Pygmy Palm Swift has a mapped global range of about 33,000 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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