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A visit to the Vaux's Swifts roost at Rio Lindo Academy in Healdsburg is becoming an annual Fall observance for Sonoma County birders. At the height of the evening, a whirling vortex of thousands of the tiny birds descend into their chimney for the night. This year the swifts arrived later than usual and there have been reports of between 5,000 and 6,000. These numbers are, of course, subject to change. Past years have seen a range from a few thousand
to over 15,000 swifts. the "show" lasts until shortly after sunset. (Veteran viewers have been known to wear caps.) Directions: From Highway 101, exit at Old Redwood
Highway/Healdsburg Avenue, south of the central Healdsburg exit.
Go north to Bailhache Avenue, turn right on Bailhache, which
becomes Rio Lindo Avenue, and follow it about 3 miles into the
Academy's main entrance.
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Identification Tips: > Length: 4.5 inches > Sexes similar |
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>Short tail bluntly squared
off Plumage sooty gray above with paler rump |
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Similar species: All swallows have longer tails, usually with a notch or fork, and broader wings. Black and White-throated Swifts have forked tails and different patterning below. Chimney Swift is extremely similar but is larger, with longer wings, a darker rump and throat, and a different call. Author: Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., and Zim, H. (1983). Birds of North America New York: Golden Press |
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