Alternative name: Alexander's Swift
- Apus alexandri
Identification
13 cm
- Dark grey-brown
- Large pale throat-patch
- Shallow fork to the tail.
Distribution
The bluish tinge is not mentioned in most literature
Photo by Valéry Schollaert
Cape Verde, March 2012
Photo by Valéry Schollaert
Cape Verde, March 2012
Endemic to the Cape Verde Islands.
Occurs on all islands except Santa Luzia but may not breed on all of them. Breeding suspected on Sao Nicolau, Santo Antao, Brava, Fogo and Santiago.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Gullies and along cliffs and shorelines.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes insects.
Breeding
It builds its saucer shaped nest from grass and feathers, and it is placed in a cliff, in a cave or in the roof of a building. 2 white eggs are laid.
Vocalisation
It has a high-pitched, screaming call with a buzzing quality.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Cape Verde Swift. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cape_Verde_Swift
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
