Chaetura
Chimney Swift ( Chaetura pelagica )
Chaetura is a species of bird in the family of sailors ( Apodidae ). Partly also the trivial name Actual spiny-tailed sailor is used in German for this genus. The genus includes nine small sailors species, seven of which are restricted to the Neotropical ecozone, while two, the chimney swift and the gray belly sailors, also breed in North America and migrate in the winter in the northern hemisphere in the Neotropical region.
Most species of the genus by the use of man-made breeding places, especially at chimneys and underground manholes. All examined nests of the species of this genus were very similar: a flat, mounted on a vertical surface trough, formed from thin, agglutinated with saliva branches.
Features
The body length is 10-14 centimeters. The plumage of the species very similar. The top is uniformly dark except for a paler colored rump, some species also show paler upper tail-coverts. The underside is usually pale only on the throat and chest, with two species but also on the under tail-coverts.
The shape of the wing is typical of the tribe Chaeturini, the outer primaries are significantly bent, the inner primaries and secondaries that are very dense. The tail is short and cut straight, the head is almost exactly in front as far as the tail, giving the impression of a classic " cigar with wings."
System
The genus Chaetura originally encompassed far more species. David Lack formed subgroups for the then large genus and turning toward the plumage coloration and distribution, but without naming these subgroups. RK Brooke told in 1970 to the genus as proposed paint and introduced the additional genera Zoonavena, Telacanthura, Rhaphidura and Neafrapus.
The internal system of the now reduced genus is still very controversial. The biggest problem is the status of some subspecies of Graubürzelseglers that resemble the very Blaßbürzelsegler and set its species status in question. From MA Marin was suggested in 1997 that it is independent species in C. chapmani viridipennis and C. andrei meridoonalis, but this is not yet widely recognized. C. spinicauda Fumosa also is seen by some authors as distinct species.
The following types are attributed to the genus:
- Dorn Swift ( Chaetura spinicauda )
- Antilles sailors ( Chaetura martinica )
- Graubürzelsegler ( Chaetura cinereiventris )
- Blaßbürzelsegler ( Chaetura egregia )
- Chimney Swift ( Chaetura pelagica )
- Gray belly Swift ( Chaetura vauxi )
- Chapmansegler ( Chaetura chapmani )
- Bobtail Swift ( Chaetura brachyura )
- Graytail Swift ( Chaetura andrei )