Common Swift - BirdForum Opus

Apus apus

Photo by IanF

Range :

By far the commonest swift of much of its range. Breeds from the Mediterranean north to northern Scotland, central Norway and the Kola Peninsula. Breeds across North-West Africa and in scattered localities in the Middle East. Has bred on Malta and recently discovered breeding in the Canary Islands. To the east range extends across Asia to northern China.

  A summer visitor throughout range , wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and India. Autumn passage is mainly late July-September, rarely until late October, even November. Return movement reaches southern Europe in late March, further north in late April-May. 
  Vagrants recorded north to Svalbard, Iceland and the Faroes, also on Malta, Madeira and the Azores. 

Habitat :

Feeds chiefly over open country and often over water, commonly in urban areas, in lowlands or mountains. Breeds mainly in holes in buildings, but also crevices in cliffs and caves.

Subspecies :

Nominate race breeds over much of the Western Palearctic with pekinensis occurring on passage through the Middle East and breeding in Asia, paler and browner plumage with more extensive white throat patch.

Identification

Photographed: Cowpen Bewley Wood land Park, Billingham, UK

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Apus apus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

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