Fork-tailed Palm Swift

Identification

The fork-tailed palm swift is a tiny swift, measuring just 13 cm in length and weighing only 9 to 13.6 grams. Its most distinctive feature is its long, deeply forked tail, which is immediately recognizable in flight. The bird has characteristically long, narrow wings typical of swifts built for sustained aerial hunting. Males and females look identical, displaying blackish-brown upperparts with a slight greenish gloss and pale gray feather edges, while the rump is slightly paler. The cheeks are grayish-brown, and the throat is very pale brownish-white with dusky mottling. Underparts are pale with light brown mottling that is sparsest on the belly. The darker subspecies, T. s. semota, found in Trinidad, Tobago, the Guianas, and parts of Brazil, has blacker upperparts and darker underparts with less pale edging.

Juveniles resemble adults but show a buff tinge to the head and buffy edges on their feathers. The species belongs to the swift family Apodidae and should not be confused with the Old World palm swifts of the genus Cypsiurus found in Africa, Madagascar, and Asia.

Range & Habitat

The fork-tailed palm swift is found across most of northern South America and on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The nominate subspecies T. s. squamata ranges throughout the Amazon Basin from northern Bolivia, eastern Peru, and eastern Ecuador through eastern Colombia and northwestern Brazil into southern and eastern Venezuela. The darker subspecies T. s. semota occurs on Trinidad, Tobago, in the Guianas, and in north-central, northeastern, and eastern Brazil.

This is a lowland species that occurs at elevations up to approximately 1,000 meters. It favors landscapes with abundant palm trees, particularly moriche palms, including moist and wet savannas, palm swamps, riparian forests, and urban areas. Remarkably adaptable, the species has benefited from the planting of decorative palms in human settlements, which provide additional nesting sites.

Behaviour & Diet

The fork-tailed palm swift is a year-round resident throughout its range and is strictly aerial, feeding on insects caught in flight like all swifts. These birds forage in small flocks of up to 10 individuals and have a highly varied diet encompassing insects from at least nine different orders. However, geographic and seasonal variation appears significant; in some areas, ants and termites comprise almost the entire diet, suggesting dietary flexibility based on local conditions.

Breeding seasons vary geographically, occurring from April to June on Trinidad and September to November in central Brazil. The swift nests exclusively in palm trees, most frequently in Mauritia flexuosa but also in other species including introduced ornamental palms. Its remarkable nest is a disorderly, elongated clump of feathers bound together with saliva, suspended from a dangling dead palm frond with a bottom entrance. Feathers are collected by plucking them from birds in flight, particularly pigeons and parrots, though birds from at least 21 families have been targeted. Clutches contain three eggs and are incubated for approximately 21 days.

Best Time & Places to See It

The fork-tailed palm swift is a permanent resident wherever it occurs, so it can be encountered year-round throughout its range. However, breeding seasons vary by location—visit Trinidad and Tobago between April and June, or central Brazil from September to November to observe nesting behavior. Look for these birds in palm-rich habitats including savannas, palm swamps, riparian forests, and even parks and gardens with palm plantings in towns and cities. Small flocks are often active in early morning hours and again in the late afternoon.

Photography Tips

Photographing this tiny, fast-moving swift presents a genuine challenge. Its small size, rapid flight, and forked tail make it demanding but rewarding to capture. Position yourself near palm groves or urban areas with palm trees, particularly moriche palms, where birds are likely to forage. Early morning and late afternoon sessions will reward patient photographers with more activity. Listen for the birds' distinctive flight calls—described as trilling "trrrrreeeee," buzzy "d-z-z-z-z-z," or thin buzzing sounds—to locate flocks. Fast shutter speeds and continuous autofocus are essential for tracking these agile insectivores in flight. The bird's long forked tail and narrow wings are key identifying features to capture in images.