BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary
Chaetura vauxi
Vaux's Swift
| Scientific Name: | Chaetura vauxi (Townsend, 1839) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Name: | Vaux's Swift | ||||||||||
| Classification / Taxonomy | |||||||||||
| Scientific Name - Concept Reference: | American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/. | ||||||||||
| Classification Level: | Species | ||||||||||
| Species Group: | Vertebrate Animal | ||||||||||
| Species Code: | B-VASW | ||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Conservation Status / Legal Designation | |||||||||||
| Global Status: | G5 (Apr 2016) | ||||||||||
| Provincial Status: | S4S5B (Mar 2022) | ||||||||||
| BC List: | Yellow | ||||||||||
| Provincial FRPA list: | |||||||||||
| Provincial Wildlife Act: | |||||||||||
| COSEWIC Status: | |||||||||||
| SARA Schedule: | |||||||||||
| General Status Canada: | 4 - Secure (2005) | ||||||||||
| Migratory Bird Convention Act: | Y | ||||||||||
| Ecology & Life History | |||||||||||
| General Description: | A 12-cm-long bird with long narrow wings, a small cigar-shaped body, and a short stubby tail; plumage is dark blackish, with a whitish throat. | ||||||||||
| Global Reproduction Comments: | Nests singly or in small colony. Clutch size is 3-7 (usually 4-7). Incubation lasts 18-20 days (Stiles and Skutch 1989; Baicich and Harrison 1997). Young leave nest after 20-21 days; will perch on interior wall the nest is built on, but may not fly freely for up to another 7 days (Baldwin and Zaczkowski 1963). At least some birds nest at one year of age (Bull and Collins 1996). Will return to same nest site (Baldwin and Zaczkowski 1963; Bull and Collins 1996). In an Oregon study, 70% of 46 nest trees were re-used in subsequent years, and nest site fidelity was also high, with 14 of 15 marked birds recaptured at the same nest tree (Bull and Collins 1996). | ||||||||||
| Global Ecology Comments: | Forages and migrates during day. May enter torpor in periods of cold weather (Terres 1980). Number of birds at two tree roosts monitored in northeastern Oregon ranged from 9 to 479, with highest counts in spring (Bull 1991). During migration can gather in very large roosting flocks; up to 40,000 regularly roost in one large chimney in Portland (Eshbaugh 2000), and other large chimney roosts occur in a variety of Oregon cities (Bull 2000) and in Los Angeles, California. | ||||||||||
| Migration Characteristics: (Global / Provincial) | |||||||||||
|
Nonmigrant: Local Migrant: Distant Migrant: Within Borders Migrant: |
Y / Y / Y / na / |
||||||||||
| Global Migration Comments: | Breeding populations in U.S. and Canada make long migrations to Mexico, Central America and Venezuela (Bull and Collins 1993). A few winter irregularly in southern coastal lowlands of California (CDFG 2000). Resident throughout the year in Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela but may make local migrations to lowlands (Stiles and Skutch 1989; Howell and Webb 1995). In Oregon, some left their nesting areas in late August and early September and were found at large communal roosts sheltering more than 500 swifts; these large roosts were used until mid-September when swifts left the study area (Bull and Blumton 1997). |
||||||||||
| Habitats: (Type / Subtype / Dependence) |
Agriculture / Cultivated Field / Facultative - frequent use
Agriculture / Hedgerow / Facultative - frequent use Agriculture / Pasture/Old Field / Facultative - frequent use Anthropogenic / Urban/Suburban / Facultative - frequent use Forest / Conifer Forest - Dry / Facultative - frequent use Forest / Conifer Forest - Mesic (average) / Facultative - frequent use Forest / Conifer Forest - Moist/wet / Facultative - frequent use Forest / Deciduous/Broadleaf Forest / Facultative - frequent use Forest / Mixed Forest (deciduous/coniferous mix) / Facultative - frequent use Grassland/Shrub / Antelope-brush Steppe / Facultative - occasional use Grassland/Shrub / Grassland / Facultative - occasional use Grassland/Shrub / Meadow / Facultative - occasional use Grassland/Shrub / Sagebrush Steppe / Facultative - occasional use Lakes / Lake / Facultative - frequent use Lakes / Pond/Open Water / Facultative - frequent use Riparian / Riparian Forest / Facultative - frequent use Stream/River / Stream/River / Facultative - frequent use Wetland / Bog / Facultative - frequent use Wetland / Fen / Facultative - frequent use Wetland / Marsh / Facultative - frequent use Wetland / Swamp / Facultative - frequent use |
||||||||||
| Global Habitat Comments: |
Found in mature forests but also forages and migrates over open country (Tropical to Temperate zone) (AOU 1983; Bull and Collins 1993). Forages over land and water. Often roosts in large flocks in hollow trees or chimneys just prior to and during migration (Bull and Blumton 1997, Eshbaugh 2000). BREEDING: In North America, prefers late seral stages of coniferous and mixed deciduous/coniferous forests; more abundant in old-growth forests than in younger stands (Manuwal and Huff 1987, Gilbert and Allwine 1991, Huff and Raley 1991, Lundquist and Mariani 1991; Manuwal 1991; Bull and Collins 1993). In Washington, found more abundant in old-growth (> 250 years old) than in younger (< 165 years old) forest stands (Manuwal and Huff 1987), and more abundant in wet old-growth than mesic or dry old-growth (Manuwal 1991). In the southern Washington Cascade Mountains, abundance was positively correlated with high density of live trees >100 cm in diameter at breast height (mainly Douglas-fir [PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII], Western Hemlock [TSUGA HETEROPHYLLA], and Western Redcedar [THUJA PLICATA]) and with large snags (Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock; Lundquist and Mariani 1991). The multi-layered broken overstory of old-growth forests may also provide easier access to aerial insects than closed, continuous canopies of younger forests (Lundquist and Mariani 1991). In northern California, uses Douglas-fir forests but highest densities are in coastal redwood (SEQUOIA SEMPERVIRENS) habitats (Sterling and Paton 1996; CDFG 2000). BREEDING AND WINTERING: In the neotropics, found in mixed coniferous-broadleaf, deciduous broadleaf, and broadleaf evergreen forests (Rappole et al. 1995). In Mexico, breeds in highlands, ranging into lowlands in migration or winter; although a disjunct population is resident on the Yucatan Peninsula (Howell and Webb 1995). In Honduras, common in humid Caribbean lowlands to interior highlands up to 2000m; one breeding record in cloud forest; flock also recorded feeding around a large almendro tree (DIPTERYX OLEIFERA) in an open field (Monroe 1968). In Costa Rica, resident in highlands (700-2000 m), occasionally ranging higher or into lowlands (Stiles and Skutch 1989). NEST SITES: Nests are usually in large-diameter hollow trees, broken-top trees, or stumps; also in chimneys. Nest is a saucer-shaped structure of twigs and spruce or pine needles glued to interior vertical wall of hollow tree, stump, chimney, dark attic, or similar dark cranny. Usually locates nest near bottom of cavity (Baicich and Harrison 1997; Bull and Collins 1993). In Oregon, nests have been recorded in live or dead Grand Fir (ABIES GRANDIS) and Bigleaf Maple (ACER MACROPHYLLUM) with hollow chambers where heartwood had decayed (Bull and Cooper 1991; Bull and Collins 1993). For 21 nests located in a northeastern Oregon study, nest trees averaged 67.5 cm diameter at breast height (range 45-96 cm) and 25 m tall (range 15-37 m), and usually occurred in old-growth forest with an average canopy closure of 71%. All of these nests were in trees hollowed out by Indian paint fungus (ECHINODONTIUM TINCTORUM) and with an entrance hole excavated by Pileated Woodpeckers (Bull and Cooper 1991). In Washington, one nest recorded in a broken-topped Western Redcedar (THUJA PLICATA) 10 m tall and 76 cm diameter at breast height in old-growth forest (Lundquist and Mariani 1991). In Montana, three nests recorded in old broken-topped Western Hemlock (TSUGA HETEROPHYLLA; Baldwin and Zaczkowski 1963). Less typical records in cottonwood (POPULUS spp.) and sycamore (Platanus spp.; Taylor 1905). In British Columbia, the only confirmed tree nest was in a hollow Bigleaf Maple; there are several other records of birds seen entering or leaving Western Redcedars and Black Cottonwoods (POPULUS TRICHOCARPA), but nesting was not confirmed (Campbell et al. 1990, M. G. Shepard, pers. comm.). ROOSTS: Two roosts were recorded in northeastern Oregon, both in Grand Fir trees 200-300 years old, > 100 cm diameter at breast height in old-growth forest stands (Bull 1991). Postfledging swifts in Oregon roosted in the nest tree (44% of juveniles, 64% of adults) or in trees up to 9.2 kilometers away. Roost trees were hollow, live or dead grand firs (94%) or ponderosa pines (6%), with an average DBH of 77 cm and an average height of 26 m (Bull and Blumton 1997). One record of birds roosting in the open: in southern California a large tight cluster was found on the trunk of a tamarisk tree (TAMARIX spp.; Stager 1965). In Oregon, the largest migratory roost (15,000 to 40,000 birds) is in a large brick chimney at a school in Portland (Eshbaugh 2000). |
||||||||||
| Food Habits: |
Invertivore: Adult, Immature
|
||||||||||
| Global Food Habits Comments: | Feeds on small flying insects; catches insects in the air. Feeds in long, continuous foraging flights high over varied habitats; also at lower levels over forest openings, burns, rivers and lakes (Grinnell and Miller 1944). In Oregon, foraged up to 5.4 km from the nest but mostly near the nest stand (Bull and Beckwith 1993). Often joins other swifts in feeding at edges of rainstorms (Stiles and Skutch 1989; Campbell et al. 1990). Feeds on leafhoppers, true flies; see Bull and Beckwith (1993) for extensive information on diet in Oregon. | ||||||||||
| Global Phenology: |
Diurnal: Adult, Immature
|
||||||||||
| Provincial Phenology: (1st half of month/ 2nd half of month) |
|||||||||||
| Colonial Breeder: | N | ||||||||||
| Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): | 12/ / 17 | ||||||||||
| Elevation (m) (min / max): |
Global:
Provincial: |
||||||||||
| Distribution | |||||||||||
| Endemic: | N | ||||||||||
| Global Range Comment: | BREEDING: southeastern Alaska, southern British Columbia, northern Idaho, and western Montana south to central California (migratory populations); also southwestern Tamaulipas and southeastern San Luis Potosi, Yucatan Peninsula, western Mexico south to Panama, and in northern Venezuela (resident populations) (AOU 1983, Bull and Collins 1993, Rappole 1995). NON-BREEDING: central Mexico south through breeding range in Middle America and Venezuela; casual in California, southern Louisiana, and western Florida (AOU 1983, Bull and Collins 1993). | ||||||||||
| Authors / Contributors | |||||||||||
| Global Information Author: | HAMMERSON, G., REVISED BY C. PAIGE, MINOR REVISIONS BY S. CANNINGS | ||||||||||
| Last Updated: | Mar 17, 1994 | ||||||||||
| Provincial Information Author: | |||||||||||
| Last Updated: | |||||||||||
| References and Related Literature | |||||||||||
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp. |
|||||||||||
Baicich, P. J., and C. J. O. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the nests, eggs and nestlings of North American birds. Second edition. Academic Press, New York. |
|||||||||||
Baldwin, P.H. and N. K. Zaczkowski. 1963. Breeding biology of the Vaux's Swift. Condor 65:400-406. |
|||||||||||
Bull, E. L. 1991. Summer roosts and roosting behavior of Vaux's Swifts in old-growth forests. Northwestern Naturalist 72:78-82. |
|||||||||||
Bull, E. L. 2000. Vaux's Swift. IN The Oregon Birds Forum, available at: http://www.orst.edu/pubs/birds/index.htm. Accessed 6 February 2001. |
|||||||||||
Bull, E. L. and H. D. Cooper. 1991. Vaux's Swift nests in hollow trees. Western Birds 22:85-91. |
|||||||||||
Bull, E. L., & A. K. Blumton. 1997. Roosting behavior of postfledging Vaux's Swifts in northeastern Oregon. Journal of Field Ornithology 68:302--305. |
|||||||||||
Bull, E. L., and R. C. Beckwith. 1993. Diet and foraging behavior of Vaux's swifts in northeastern Oregon. Condor 95:1016-1023. |
|||||||||||
Bull, E.L. and C.T. Collins. 1996. Nest site fidelity, breeding age and adult longevity in the Vaux's Swift. North American Bird Bander 21:49-51. |
|||||||||||
Bull, E.L., and C.T. Collins. 1993. Vaux's Swift (CHAETURA VAUXI). In A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The Birds of North America, No. 77. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. 12 pp. |
|||||||||||
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 2000. California Wildlife Habitats Relationship System (CWHR). California Department of Fish and Game, California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. Online: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/cwhr/B281.html |
|||||||||||
Campbell, R. W., N. K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, J. M. Cooper, G. W. Kaiser, and M. C. McNall. 1990b. The birds of British Columbia. Volume 2. Nonpasserines: diurnal birds of prey through woodpeckers. University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, B.C. 636 pp. |
|||||||||||
Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, et al. 1990b. The Birds of British Columbia Vol. 2: Nonpasserines: Diurnal Birds of Prey through Woodpeckers. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC. |
|||||||||||
Eshbaugh, D. 2000. Chapman School swift project. The Warbler, November 2000. The Audubon Society of Portland newsletter: http://www.audubonportland.org/news/stuff.htm#chapman. Accessed November 14, 2000. |
|||||||||||
Gilbert, F.F., and R. Allwine. 1991. Spring bird communities in the Oregon Cascade Range. Pages 145-158 in L.F. Ruggiero, K.B. Aubry, A.B. Carey, and M.H. Huff, technical coordinators. Wildlife and Vegetation of unmanaged Douglas-fir Forests. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, General Technical Report PNW-GTR-285, Portland, OR. |
|||||||||||
Godfrey, W.E. 1966. The birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada. Ottawa. 428 pp. |
|||||||||||
Grinnell, J., and A. Miller. 1944. The distribution of the birds of California. Pacific Coast Avifauna Number 27, Cooper Ornithological Club, Berkeley, California. |
|||||||||||
Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. |
|||||||||||
Huff, M.H., and C.M. Raley. 1991. Regional patterns of diurnal breeding bird communities in Oregon and Washington. Pages 176-205 in L.F. Ruggiero, K.B. Aubry, A.B. Carey, and M.H. Huff, technical coordinators. Wildlife and Vegetation of unmanaged Douglas-fir Forests. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, General Technical Report PNW-GTR-285, Portland, OR. |
|||||||||||
Lundquist, R. W. and J. M. Mariani. 1991. Nesting habitat and abundance of snag-dependent birds in the southern Washington Cascade Range. Pp. 220-239 in L. F. Ruggiero, K. B. Aubry, A. B. Carey and M. H. Huff, tech. coordinators. Wildlife and Vegetation of unmanaged Douglas-fir Forests. USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, General Technical Report PNW-GTR-285, Portland, OR. |
|||||||||||
Manuwal, D. A. 1991. Spring bird communities in the southern Washington Cascade Range. Pages 161-174 IN L. F. Ruggiero, K. B. Aubry, A. B. Carey, and M. H. Huff, technical coordinators. Wildlife and Vegetation of unmanaged Douglas-fir Forests. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, General Technical Report PNW-GTR-285, Portland, OR. |
|||||||||||
Manuwal, D. A. and M. H. Huff. 1987. Spring and winter bird populations in a Douglas-fir forest sere. Journal Wildlife Management 51:586-595. |
|||||||||||
Monroe, B.L., Jr. 1968. A distributional survey of the birds of Honduras. Ornithological Monographs 7:1-458. |
|||||||||||
Rappole, J. H., E. S. Morton, T. E. Lovejoy III, and J. L. Rous. 1995. Nearctic avian migrants in the Neotropics: Maps, Appendices, and Bibliography (Second edition). Conservation and Research Center, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, Virginia. 324 pp. |
|||||||||||
Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, I. Thomas, J. Fallon, and G. Gough. 2000. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 1999. Version 98.1, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. Available at: http://www.mbr.nbs.gov/bbs/bbs.html. |
|||||||||||
Stager, K. E. 1965. An exposed nocturnal roost of migrant Vaux's Swifts. Condor 67:81-82. |
|||||||||||
Sterling, J. and P. W. C. Paton. 1996. Breeding distribution of Vaux's Swift in California. Western Birds 27:30-40. |
|||||||||||
Stiles, F. G. and A. F. Skutch. 1989. A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA. 511 pp. |
|||||||||||
Summers, K. and M. Gebauer. 1995. Status of the Vaux's Swift in British Columbia . B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 24 pp. Working Report WR-67. |
|||||||||||
Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. |
|||||||||||
Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 1994. Species Summary: Chaetura vauxi. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).