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- Apus niansae
Identification
Distribution
Eastern Africa. Found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. Wintering birds also in NE Zaire.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized[1]:
- A. n. niansae:
- A. n. somalicus:
Habitat
Usually found in highland areas around gorges, cliff-faces and human settlements. Accessible wet areas are an important source of food. Can also be seen in lowlands.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects like other swifts.
Often forages early morning or late afternoon but also feeds throughout the day close to active breeding colonies. Gregarious, often together with other Swift species.
Breeding
Breeding season from April to August, later in Kenya.
Breeds in crevices on cliff-faces or in gorges, also on buildings. The nest is a shallow cup made of feathers and grasses and held together with saliva. Lays 1 to 3 eggs. Like other swifts copulates in the air. Usually in small colonies.
Movements
Most populations are resident, however birds in northern Somalia and Eritrea are possibly partially migratory.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Feb 2018)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Nyanza Swift. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Nyanza_Swift
