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The field identification of cypseloides swifts is no small challenge
(although chaetura swifts take the prize), so it is no surprise that there have been very few
credible reports of Black Swift from Panama. I am aware of three records from Panama, two of which come from the Canopy Tower (and two of which involve
Robert Ridgely, no doubt less a matter of luck than of well-honed observational skills). Suffice to say that one would do well to
do more than glance at the region's swifts, particularly those that can be seen at close range from the Canopy Tower, as any number
of species are possible.
On May 30th, 2007, Ken Allaire and José Perez spotted saw a trio of Cypseloides swifts passing over the Canopy Tower. We tentatively identified them as Black Swifts, as their tails appeared to be notched, which would eliminate White-chinned Swift. This species was considered hypothetical in Panamá until a few years ago, but may be recorded more frequently as observer alertness increases; Carlos Bethancourt reports a couple of solid sightings of this species during the month of May. Most exciting was Allen Chartier's report of 20+ Black Swifts seen over the Canopy Tower on 11/18/07; to follow is the exact text of Mr. Chartier's report: "The Black Swifts were seen on several days at the Canopy Tower and I, at least, studied them carefully. The were definitely bigger than any of the Chaetura swifts, and with less stiff-winged flight, all black with a slightly notched tail. They were not big enough to be White-collared Swifts, and none had any white on the nape or breast. A few came low enough to confirm that they were not Chestnut-collared Swifts as they were entirely black on the throat and breast. I tried to see if there was any white on the face but none of the birds came close enough for that. I do have one rather poor photo of one of them." 20 years ago this species was considered hypothetical in Panamá, but sight records have increased in recent years as birder
awareness has been engaged (I have my own report from May of this year).
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At right is a photo of one of the swifts, bravely submitted by Allen. This photo illustrates both the difficulty of capturing swifts on film and the difficulty of identifying them in the field. From this image I feel pretty safe
in elminating the larger swifts in the genus Streptoprocne, but I don't feel sure that I can eliminate either Black Swift's congener, White-chinned Swift (one we are all watching out for in central Panamá), or smaller swifts
in the genus Chaetura, but in the field this latter distinction is usually obvious. This case also reminds one of the need to take good field notes, as Allen has done quite nicely. A brave ornithologist could make a career out
of cataloguing the swifts passing through Panamá, as there are probably a number of species that pass unnoticed.