White throated Swift Bird

The White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) is a swift of the family Apodidae native to western North America, south to cordilleran western... more

by Movie Poster Prints

Title

White throated Swift Bird

Artist

Movie Poster Prints

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Photograph

Description

The White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) is a swift of the family Apodidae native to western North America, south to cordilleran western Honduras. It is migratory, and travels to the southern part of its range in winter, as far north along the Pacific coast as the Californian Central Valley; inland its range extends throughout the Great Basin region to extreme southern British Columbia.
Reaching a length of 16.5 cm (6.5 inches), with a wingspan of 35.5 cm (14 inches), the White-throated Swift is distinguished from other North American swifts by the whitish throat patch, which extends down to the belly. The upperparts, belly, and sides of the breast are black, and the underwings are gray.
Like all swifts, White-throated Swifts use their short legs only for clinging onto vertical surfaces or wires, and never land on the ground voluntarily.

Panyptila melanoleuca. White-throated swift. This image was included in: Reports of Explorations and Surveys .... Volume X. 1859. Plate XVIII. P. 35 of U. S. Pacific Railroad Explorations and Surveys near the 35th Paralllel. Library Call Number F593 .U58 1855.
Image ID: libr0162, Treasures of the NOAA Library Collection
Location: Western United States

Category: Treasure/Natural History/Birds/

Uploaded

February 26th, 2013