Identification<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Based solely on visible and audible clues, swifts are largely unidentifiable to most observers, so context is usually a central factor in identification.\u00a0 In most locations, only one or a handful of swift species can be expected to occur regularly.\u00a0 But swifts are among the global champions of long-distance wandering, so geography does not narrow down the possibilities to the extent that most observers presume.<\/p>

Most swifts look more or less alike and the vast majority of species differ only subtly in size, shape, and shading from several closely related species.\u00a0 Moreover, most swift species can vary significantly in appearance doe to lighting, molt-stage, and posture, so their appearances are often unreliable for identification unless interpreted with an understanding of the relevant variables.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t