Identification
Medium-sized swift with powerful but erratic flight. Note the all-dark plumage and the slightly pinched-in and paddle-shaped wings. Seen in flight over lowland rainforest, including forest edges, clearings, and rivers. Often joins mixed flocks with other spinetails, swifts, and swallows. Can be mistaken for several species of large all-dark swifts, but distinguished by the shorter, squared-off tail and the pinched-in wings. Similar in shape to other spinetails, but identified by the all-dark underparts and rump.