Cypseloides niger

Considered a superspecies with C. lemosi and C. fumigatus (both of South America) by some authors (AOU 1998).

Large nesting range extends discontinuously from southeast Alaska to Costa Rica and West Indies; winters in South America and West Indies; global population probably exceeds 100,000; specialized nesting habitat on cliffs near waterfalls; population trend uncertain--some data suggest major decline over recent decades, whereas other data indicate relative stability; potentially threatened by climate change and consequent reduced streamflows in nesting range and by habitat alteration in winter range; better information on trend and threat impacts is needed.

Breeding occurs locally from southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, and southwestern Alberta south through the Pacific states to southern California; northwestern Montana, Colorado, Utah, northern New Mexico (Johnson 1990), and southeastern Arizona (Knorr and Knorr 1990); locally in highlands from Nayarit, Puebla, and Veracruz south to Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica; locally in the West Indies in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent (Sibley and Monroe 1990, Lowther and Collins 2002). Winter range is poorly known but presumably includes portions of northern and western South America (including western Brazil; Beason et al. 2012), as well as Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola (Raffaele et al. 1998, Lowther and Collins 2002).

The number of distinct occurrences has not been determined using standardized criteria. The species is known from a large number of observation sites but a small number (fewer than 100) specific breeding localities, which tend to be remote and relatively difficult to confirm as actual nesting sites.

The typically remote, steep, and difficult-to-access nesting sites used by this species generally are not vulnerable to outright destruction, direct major alteration, or excessive disturbance, though changes in upstream drainages could affect streamflow and consequently habitat suitability.

Climate change is a potential threat. For example, reduction in glaciers, snow pack, and precipitation may reduce stream flow and thereby render some nesting areas unsuitable. However, the population impact of this is uncertain (e.g., birds may shift to other sites).

Habitat changes (e.g., deforestation) in wintering areas (e.g., South America) might negatively affect black swifts (Beason et al. 2012), but supporting data are lacking, and threats there remain speculative.

Although threat impacts over the next 10 years or three generations are difficult to assess, the overall impact over this time frame likely will be low at most.