Sick's swift

It breeds in south-eastern Brazil and adjacent parts of Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, but is believed to spend the Austral winter further north in the Amazon basin, northern South America and Panama. Its exact wintering range is, however, poorly known due to the highly complex matter of field identification of a number of very similar Chaetura swifts found in central and northern South America. In addition to the previously mentioned countries, there are records from Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname and French Guiana.

The Sick's swift is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

widespread Sick's Swift was previously regarded as a subspecies of the Ashy-tailed Swift, but Marín (1997) found that Sick's Swift was closer to the Chimney Swift. Marín further suggested that the Ashy-tailed Swift was identically to Vaux's Swift of the subspecies aphanes. If following this approach, andrei (with aphanes as a junior synonym) becomes a subspecies of Vaux's Swift. This, however, is considered mistaken by Restall et al. More

The Sick's Swift (Chaetura meridionalis) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It was previously considered conspecific with the smaller Ashy-tailed Swift, but Marín (1997) found that Sick's Swift was closer to the Chimney Swift. Overview - It breeds in south-eastern Brazil and adjacent parts of Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, but is believed to spend the Austral winter further north in the Amazon basin, northern South America and Panama. More

Sick's Swift feeds in flight on flying insects. It is often low over roads or clearings in the morning or evening, rising high above the forest, often with other swifts, in the middle of the day. More

Sick's Swift from SE Brazil - go to the bottom of this page: Update December 03, 2008: I've added some not-very-good images of Sick's Swift from SE Brazil that I took recently - go to the bottom of this page: Update December 02, 2008: On the late afternoon of November 11, 2008, I studied a party of 4 - 6 Sick's Swifts (Chaetura meridionalis) feeding over a marsh east of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil: I was struck by the similarity to the Texas Chaetura, More

present comparisons of Sick's Swift Chaetura meridionalis with various other forms of Chaetura. CLICK HERE to see a candidate meridionalis from Texas. More

Sick's Swift feeds in flight on flying insects. It is often low over roads or clearings in the morning or evening, rising high above the forest, often with other swifts, in the middle of the day. References - BirdLife International 2006. Chaetura meridionalis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 July 2007. species account in the Surinam birdguide Marin, M. (1997). More

Sick's Swift Calls in flight Chaetura meridionalis (1:10) Sjoerd Mayer XC3625 16-06-1995, Bolivia Sick's Swift Calls in flight Chaetura meridionalis (0:28) Sjoerd Mayer XC3627 06-10-1992, Bolivia Sick's Swift calls/song? Chaetura meridionalis (0:10) Bob Planqué XC4827 22-11-2005, Brazil Sick's Swift call Chaetura meridionalis More