Chaetura is a genus of needletailswifts found in theAmericas. Although they resembleswallows, the two are not at all closely related; this is instead a result ofconvergent evolution. Some members ofChaetura are long-distancemigrants, while others are year-round residents.
The genusChaetura was introduced in 1826 by the English naturalistJames Francis Stephens who listed several species in the genus but did not specify atype.[1] In 1829 the English zoologistWilliam Swainson selected the type asChaetura pelasgia Stevens (sic). This is ajunior synonym ofHirundo pelagicaLinnaeus thechimney swift.[2][3] The genus name combines theAncient Greek χαιτη/khaitē meaning "long flowing hair" with ουρα/oura meaning "tail".[4]
^Boev, Zlatozar (2000). "The Presence ofApus baranensis Janossy, 1977, (Aves: Apodidae) in the Late Pliocene of Bulgaria".Acta Zoologica Bulgarica.52 (2):43–52.
