Introduction
The Antillean Palm Swift (Tachornis phoenicobia) is a small Caribbean swift of the family Apodidae. It is a resident of the Greater Antilles, where it spends much of its time flying over open country, palm groves, woodland edges and settlements. Its distinctive black-and-white plumage, long narrow wings and association with palm trees make it one of the region’s most recognisable aerial insectivores.
Physical Description
The Antillean Palm Swift is a small, slender swift measuring approximately 10–12 centimetres in length and weighing about 9 grams. It has long, narrow, pointed wings and a medium-length forked tail. The sexes are alike in plumage and general appearance.
Adults are dark sooty brown to blackish above, with dull white underparts. A dark band crosses the breast, while the flanks, lower belly and undertail coverts are darker. The sides of the rump are white and can form conspicuous pale patches in flight. The face is generally greyish brown, and the small bill and feet are adapted to an aerial lifestyle rather than walking or perching on branches.
Young birds resemble adults but are usually duller below, with paler brown markings on the flanks and undertail. Cuban birds, belonging to the subspecies T. p. iradii, are generally larger and have a more deeply forked tail than the nominate birds found on Jamaica and Hispaniola.
Range and Habitat
The Antillean Palm Swift is a resident species of Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The Cuban population also occurs on Isla de la Juventud. Occasional records outside the normal range have been reported, but these do not represent established populations.
It favours lowland and foothill habitats with palms, including palm savannas, open woodland, dry grassland, agricultural areas, coastal plains and lightly developed urban or suburban landscapes. Royal palms and other palms provide important nesting and roosting sites. The species can occur at higher elevations on Hispaniola and Jamaica, but it is most often associated with warm, open areas.
The Antillean Palm Swift is non-migratory. Local movements may occur in response to weather, food availability and the distribution of suitable palms.
Where to See This Species
National Botanical Garden, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The National Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo lists the Antillean Palm Swift among its recorded and target species. Its landscaped grounds, open areas and mature palms provide suitable habitat for watching swifts feeding overhead. Early morning is generally the most comfortable time for birding, although the species may be active throughout the day.
Nearby accommodation: Santo Domingo offers a wide choice of hotels, guest houses, serviced apartments and self-catering accommodation.
Ecological Foundation Trail, Punta Cana, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic
The Ecological Foundation Trail in Punta Cana supports a mixture of lowland forest, coastal scrub, pasture, mangroves, lagoons and developed areas. The Antillean Palm Swift is listed among the site’s target birds, and open habitats with palms are particularly worth checking.
Nearby accommodation: Punta Cana is the nearest practical base, with hotels, resort accommodation, guest houses and self-catering options.
El Choco National Park, Cabarete, Dominican Republic
El Choco National Park is a documented birding site for the Antillean Palm Swift. Look over open clearings, palm-rich edges and nearby lowland habitats, especially where flying insects gather above vegetation.
Nearby accommodation: Cabarete is the main gateway settlement, with hotels, guest houses, hostels, villas and self-catering accommodation.
Behaviour and Diet
The Antillean Palm Swift is active by day and spends most of its time on the wing. It often flies in pairs or small, loose groups, making rapid turns and shallow swoops while pursuing insects. Flocks may forage with other aerial insectivores, including swallows.
Its diet consists mainly of small flying insects, although detailed information on the proportions of different prey is limited. It commonly feeds low over vegetation, open ground, wetlands and watercourses. In Jamaica, it has been observed swooping close to the water surface while catching insects.
The species is closely associated with palms during the breeding season. It builds a small hanging pouch or shallow nest from plant fibres, feathers and other soft material, which is bound together with saliva. The nest is usually attached to the outside of a dead, drooping palm frond, although unusual nest sites, including thatched structures and other sheltered surfaces, have also been reported.
Antillean Palm Swifts nest in small colonies. Clutch size is generally two to five white eggs, and both parents participate in incubation and the care of nestlings. Reported breeding periods include approximately March to May on Hispaniola and May to July in Cuba, although timing can vary locally.
Identification Tips
- Look for a very small, slim swift with long, narrow wings and a clearly forked tail.
- The upperparts are dark, while the underparts appear pale with a dark breast band and darker flanks.
- White patches on the sides of the rump are often visible when the bird banks or turns.
- It usually flies in quick, agile circuits over palms, open ground, roads, wetlands or settlements.
- It is most likely to be confused with another swift at a distance, but its combination of black-and-white underparts, slim shape, long wings and forked tail is distinctive within most of its range.
- Swallows generally have a broader shape and more deliberate flight, while the Antillean Palm Swift shows the rapid, continuous flight typical of a swift.
Conservation Status
The Antillean Palm Swift is assessed as Least Concern. Its population is considered stable, although the total number of mature individuals has not been quantified reliably.
No major range-wide threat is currently identified. Nevertheless, the loss of mature palms through urban development, agricultural change, severe storms or the removal of dead fronds could reduce local nesting opportunities. Maintaining palm-rich habitats and retaining suitable nesting palms in managed landscapes can benefit the species.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Antillean Palm Swift live?
It occurs mainly on Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The Cuban subspecies also occurs on Isla de la Juventud.
Is the Antillean Palm Swift migratory?
No. It is generally a year-round resident, although individuals may make local movements and rare vagrants have been recorded outside the normal range.
What does the Antillean Palm Swift eat?
It feeds primarily on small flying insects captured in the air. It often forages over open ground, vegetation, wetlands and watercourses.
Where does the Antillean Palm Swift build its nest?
It usually attaches a small pouch-like nest to the outside of a dead, drooping palm frond. The nest is made from plant fibres, feathers and other soft materials bound with saliva.
How can the Antillean Palm Swift be identified in flight?
Look for a small, slender swift with long pointed wings, a forked tail, dark upperparts, pale underparts and a dark band across the breast. White patches on the sides of the rump may be visible during turns.
References
- BirdLife International
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birds of the World
- Caribbean Birding Trail
Related posts
