Chaetura is a genus of needletail swifts found in the Americas in modern times. They resemble in general appearance and are commonly confused with swallows but they are not at all closely related to these (see also convergent evolution). The genus name is derived from the Greek khaite for long flowing hair and oura for tail, referring to the stiff feathers projecting from the end of the tail. A fossil species, Chaetura baconica, was described from Late Miocene deposits of Hungary.