Speedometer

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Speedometer
Fork-tailed swift (Tachornis squamata)

Fork-tailed swift ( Tachornis squamata )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Sailor birds (Apodiformes)
Family : Sailors (Apodidae)
Tribe : Apodini
Genre : Speedometer
Scientific name
Speedometer
Gutter , 1847

Tachornis is a genus of birdsinthe sailor family (Apodidae). The genus includes three small to very small, distinctive species that are restricted to the Neotropical fauna region. The birds are usually found near palm trees and are therefore often seen in parks and gardens.

A fourth species, Tachornis uranoceles , which was native to Puerto Rico , became extinct in the late Pleistocene .

features

The body length of the two smaller species, the Cuban and the Thumbsails , is around 10 centimeters, while the fork-tailed sailor is slightly larger with a body length of around 13 centimeters. The very fast flight is quite unsteady with constant changes of direction and is similar to that of the Cypsiurus species of the Old World .

The plumage on the upper side is brownish, the color of the underside looks pale and blurred and shows a rather extensive throat patch, which is separated from the likewise light belly by a darker chest band. The tapering wings in the same way in all species of the genus are long and very narrow. The body is also very slim and streamlined. The birds show a deep bulge fork, that of the short-tailed Cuban sailor is less clear, but still forked far deeper than that of the other sympathetic sailors. The Tachornis species often keep the tail closed, which then looks very pointed, but the fork can be seen in almost every perspective.

Systematics

Originally, Cuban , Tom Thumb and fork-tailed sailors were assigned to different genera, David Lack noticed the great similarity of these species in breeding behavior and appearance and summarized them in one genus, which has not been questioned since.

The following species are included in the genus:

literature

  • Phil Chantler, Gerald Driessens: A Guide to the Swifts and Tree Swifts of the World. Pica Press, Mountfield 2000, ISBN 1-873403-83-6

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ This and all information not specially marked are taken from the following source: A Guide to the Swifts and Tree Swifts of the World . Page 201, see literature
  2. ↑ Storrs L. Olson: A new species of Palm Swift (Tachornis: Apodidae) from the Pleistocene of Puerto Rico. In: The Auk. 99, April 1982, pp. 230-235 ( online ; PDF; 425 kB)
  3. ↑ Chantler, Driessens: A Guide to the Swifts and Tree Swifts of the World . Page 25, see literature

Web links

Commons : Tachornis  - collection of images, videos and audio files