Swifts (Apodidae)
Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi) - HBW 5, p. 444
French: Martinet de Vaux
German: Graubauchsegler
Spanish: Vencejo de Vaux
Other common names: Dusky-backed Swift; Richmond’s Swift (richmondi); Yucatán Swift (gaumeri)
Taxonomy: Cypcelus [sic] Vauxi J. K. Townsend, 1839, Fort Vancouver, Washington.
Previously considered conspecific with C. pelagica and C. chapmani. Races richmondi (including ochropygia) and gaumeri previously considered distinct species. A recent study considers that race aphanes is synonymous with C. andrei andrei, latter taking priority, i.e. as C. vauxi andrei, or that there may be two races of C. vauxi in N Venezuela, aphanes in W coastal range and andrei in E coastal range and S & E lowlands; same study also suggests that aphanes is identical to richmondi; however, these .. View all taxonomy...
Previously considered conspecific with C. pelagica and C. chapmani. Races richmondi (including ochropygia) and gaumeri previously considered distinct species. A recent study considers that race aphanes is synonymous with C. andrei andrei, latter taking priority, i.e. as C. vauxi andrei, or that there may be two races of C. vauxi in N Venezuela, aphanes in W coastal range and andrei in E coastal range and S & E lowlands; same study also suggests that aphanes is identical to richmondi; however, these views not universally accepted. Six subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- vauxi (J. K. Townsend, 1839) - W North America from British Columbia to S California; winters in Mexico and Guatemala.
- tamaulipensis Sutton, 1941 - E Mexico.
- gaumeri Lawrence, 1882 - Yucatán Peninsula and Cozumel I.
- vauxi (J. K. Townsend, 1839) - W North America from British Columbia to S California; winters in Mexico and Guatemala.
- tamaulipensis Sutton, 1941 - E Mexico.
- gaumeri Lawrence, 1882 - Yucatán Peninsula and Cozumel I.
- richmondi Ridgway, 1910 - S Mexico to Costa Rica and W Panama (Chiriquí).
- ochropygia Aldrich, 1937 - E Panama.
- aphanes Wetmore & Phelps, Jr., 1956 - N Venezuela.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
An estimated 14,540 Vaux's Swift prepare to roost for the night in one of the few remaining brick chimneys in Los Angeles. Locat Locality Los Angeles County, California, USA (United States)
Justin Watts 24 September 2011 26 weeks ago 46 sec 4.7 -
Several birds flying over the forest. Locality Paval, El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas State, Mexico (Southern) (ssp richmondi)
Josep del Hoyo 4 April 2009 2 years ago 37 sec 2.2
-
in flight
Locality El Tajín, Veracruz State, Mexico (Southern) (ssp tamaulipensis)
Michael Retter 11 December 2008 2 years ago 1.6
-
A flock in flight, ID by sight. Locality Cerro Negro, Monagas State, Venezuela
(ssp aphanes)
Nacho Areta 1 July 2005 2 years ago 3
Email this page