The Short-tailed Swift has broad wings, an extremely short tail, and a pale beige rump. In the Brazilian Amazon, it catches insects while flying.
It has broad wings, an extremely short tail, and a distinct pale beige area on the rump.
It catches insects in flight. In the Brazilian Amazon it flies over humid forests and waterways, as well as open plantations, grassland, river islands, and towns. It nests in drains, chimneys, wells, and natural cavities.
In Trinidad it attaches shallow half-saucer twig nests to drainage-shaft walls.
In Trinidad, 26 clutches in 1962–64 held two to seven eggs, averaging 3.8; fresh eggs were pure white.
In that Trinidad study, the last egg to last hatch interval was usually 17–18 days, with one 16-day case.
Most Trinidad chicks left the nest cup at 22–23 days, clinging to nearby walls while still receiving food from adults.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.