aerial insectivore. Details of its diet are lacking but it is known to feed on flying ants, beetles, and moths. It often feeds with other species of swift, but also in flocks of only its kind; flocks may number up to 50 birds. It tends to forage low over forest but in canyons it stays at ridge-top altitude. Breeding The white-tipped swift's breeding season in Venezuela appears to be from April to July but has not been determined elsewhere. It breeds in colonies, placing its nest in crevices of cliffs or on the side of buildings. The nest itself has not been described, but is probably an open cup made of fibers and feathers like those of others of its genus. Vocalization The white-tipped swift's flight calls has been described in many ways including a "distinctive, rachetlike, buzzing call, j-j-j-j-j-j 'j'j'j'j'J'J'J'J'j'j'j'j'j'j-j-j-j" and "a ringing, grating chatter: bzz-zz'zzz'zzz'zeee'tur'tur". Status The IUCN has assessed the white-tipped swift as being of Least Concern. It has a very large range, and though its population size is not known it is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. It is considered "fairly common but patchily distributed". References white-tipped swift Birds of the Northern Andes Birds of Venezuela white-tipped swift Taxonomy articles created by Polbot