About Aeronautes andecolus (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
Body Length
The Andean swift (Aeronautes andecolus) is approximately 14 cm (5.5 in) long.
Wing and Tail Morphology
It has sharply pointed wings and a long, deeply forked tail, and males and females are identical in appearance.
Nominate Subspecies Upperparts
The nominate subspecies has mostly black upperparts with a white collar and a white band on the rump.
Nominate Subspecies Underparts
Its face and underparts are mostly white to off-white, with mottled buff coloring on the flanks and vent.
Subspecies A. a. parvulus Traits
Subspecies A. a. parvulus is smaller than the nominate subspecies, with very sharply defined borders between its black and white areas.
Subspecies A. a. peruvianus Traits
Subspecies A. a. peruvianus is also smaller than the nominate; it has a shorter, less deeply forked tail, purer white plumage, and darker undertail coverts.
Subspecies Range Overview
The three subspecies have separate ranges across the Andes.
A. a. parvulus Distribution
A. a. parvulus, the northernmost subspecies, occurs on the western slope of the Andes from Peru's Cajamarca Department south into the far northern Tarapacá Region of Chile.
Nominate Subspecies Distribution
The nominate A. a. andecolus ranges from central Bolivia south to Río Negro Province in west central Argentina.
A. a. peruvianus Distribution
A. a. peruvianus is limited to the east slope of the Andes in southeastern Peru.
Habitat Preferences
The Andean swift primarily inhabits semi-arid montane scrub, though it can also be found in both drier and more humid areas, and is occasionally seen over forested slopes.
Main Elevation Range
Its main elevation range is 2,500 to 3,550 m (8,200 to 11,600 ft) in Peru and Bolivia, and 2,000 to 2,500 m (6,600 to 8,200 ft) in Argentina.
Elevation Extremes
Individuals have been recorded above 4,100 m (13,500 ft) in Peru.
