The Bird Book/Swifts

SWIFTS. Family MICROPODID^E

422.

BLACK SWIFT. borealis.

Cypseloides niger

Range. Mountain ranges from Central America north to British Columbia, locally distributed throughout its range.

The plumage of this Swift is entirely sooty black, darkest above; the tail is slightly forked and is without spines; length of bird, 7 inches. Although the general habits of this species are well known, little is known of their nesting; they are seen during the breeding season about the higher ranges throughout their United States habitat, and are supposed to nest in crevices on the face of cliffs at a high altitude.

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GOATSUCKERS AND SWIFTS

423. CHIMNEY SWIFT. Chcetura pelagica.

Range. North America east of the Plains, breeding from central Canada, south to the Gulf coast, and wintering south of our borders.

This well known species is sooty brownish black, 5.5 inches long, and has the tail feathers terminating in sharp spines. They are very abundant in all portions of their range, and may be seen on the wing at all hours of the day, but especially abundant in the early morning and toward dusk. They formerly dwelt and bred only in hollow trees, and a great many still continue to do so, as large hollow stumps are known where hundreds nest every year. The majority of the eastern Chimney Swifts now nest in old chimneys that are unused, at least during the summer; some small chimneys contain but a single pair while other large ones may have from fifty to a hundred or more nests glued to the sides. The birds are on the wing during the greater part of the day, generally not frequenting the vicinity of their nesting site, but returning toward dusk, when they may

Chimney Swift

E. R. Forrest NEST AND EGGS OF CHIMNEY SWIFT

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be seen to, one at a time, dive headforemost into the tops of chimneys. The nest is made of small twigs firmly glued to the sides of the chimney, or tree, and to each other, with the glutinous saliva of the vbird, making a narrow semi-circle platform for the reception of White

their three to five white eggs which are deposited in May or June; size .75 x .50.

424. VAUX'S SWIFT. Chcetura vauxi.

Range. Western United States, chiefly west of the Rockies; breeding north to British Columbia, and wintering south of the United States.

Similar to the last but smaller (length 4.5 inches), and paler in color, fading to white on the throat. The habits of this species are like those of the eastern Chimney Swift, except that the majority of these species still continue to use hollow trees as nesting places. The eggs are just like those of the last bird.

WHITE-THROATED SWIFT. Mronautes melanolcucus.

Range. Western United States south of Canada, and chiefly in the Rocky Mountains, and in

California ranges, north to Lat. 38.

A handsome species, 6.5 inches in length, with blackish upper parts and sides, and white throat, breast and central line of under parts, flank patches and ends of secondaries ; tail feathers not spined or stiffened. These birds are fairly common in some localities within their range, but appear to be found only on high ranges or in their immediate vicinity. They nest in crevices and caves in the face of cliffs, making a nest similar in construe tion to that of the Chimney Swift but of weed stalks instead White

of twigs, and lined with feathers. They lay four or five dull white eggs, during June or July; size .85 x .50.

White

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