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| + | [[Image:Little_Swift.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by {{user|xentox |xentox}}<br />Lofa County, [[Liberia]], 2005 ]] | ||
;[[:Category:Apus|Apus]] affinis | ;[[:Category:Apus|Apus]] affinis | ||
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Wingspan 33cm | + | Wingspan 33cm<br /> |
| + | *Black plumage | ||
| + | *White rump and flanks | ||
| + | *Short square tail | ||
| + | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Africa]] and [[Asia]]<br /> | ||
| + | In Africa south of the Sahara, locally also Northern Africa. In the [[Middle East]] in [[Israel]] and [[Turkey]]. From there east to [[Iran]], [[Pakistan]] and [[India]].<br /> | ||
| + | Common in sub-Saharan Africa and [[India]]. | ||
| − | + | Local and scarce in the rest of its range. Not globally threatened. | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | Also occurs on [[Europe]]an side of the Gibraltar Strait per BF members observations. | + | Also occurs on [[Europe]]an side of the [[Gibraltar]] Strait per BF members observations. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Forms a superspecies with [[House Swift]] ''Apus nipalensis'' and is often considered conspecific. Sometimes also called ''House Swift'' (and the House Swift is sometimes called Little Swift) so confusion is easily possible. | + | Forms a superspecies with [[House Swift]] ''Apus nipalensis'' and is often considered conspecific. Sometimes also called ''House Swift'' (and the House Swift is sometimes called Little Swift) so confusion is easily possible. |
| − | Six subspecies recognized: | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| + | Six subspecies recognized <sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
* ''A.a. galilejensis'' in Northern Africa, Middle East, [[Pakistan]] and in [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]] and parts of [[Somalia]]. | * ''A.a. galilejensis'' in Northern Africa, Middle East, [[Pakistan]] and in [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]] and parts of [[Somalia]]. | ||
* ''A.a. aerobates'' from [[Mauritania]] east to [[Somalia]] and south to [[South Africa]]. | * ''A.a. aerobates'' from [[Mauritania]] east to [[Somalia]] and south to [[South Africa]]. | ||
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Aerial; nests on cliffs, buildings and bridges. | Aerial; nests on cliffs, buildings and bridges. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | 1-4 eggs are laid in nests built in colonies on cliffs, buildings and bridges. | + | ====Breeding==== |
| − | + | The 1-4 eggs are laid in nests built in colonies on cliffs, buildings and bridges. | |
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
Diet includes insects caught in flight. | Diet includes insects caught in flight. | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Apus+affinis}} | {{GSearch|Apus+affinis}} | ||
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=557&Bird_Image_ID=7103&Bird_Family_ID=83 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | *[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=557&Bird_Image_ID=7103&Bird_Family_ID=83 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Apus]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Apus]] | ||
Revision as of 15:43, 22 June 2012
- Apus affinis
Identification
Wingspan 33cm
- Black plumage
- White rump and flanks
- Short square tail
Distribution
Africa and Asia
In Africa south of the Sahara, locally also Northern Africa. In the Middle East in Israel and Turkey. From there east to Iran, Pakistan and India.
Common in sub-Saharan Africa and India.
Local and scarce in the rest of its range. Not globally threatened.
Also occurs on European side of the Gibraltar Strait per BF members observations.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with House Swift Apus nipalensis and is often considered conspecific. Sometimes also called House Swift (and the House Swift is sometimes called Little Swift) so confusion is easily possible.
Subspecies
Six subspecies recognized [1]:
- A.a. galilejensis in Northern Africa, Middle East, Pakistan and in Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and parts of Somalia.
- A.a. aerobates from Mauritania east to Somalia and south to South Africa.
- A.a. bannermani on Bioko, Principe and Sao Tome.
- A.a. theresae from Angola south to Zambia and South Africa.
- A.a. affinis from S Somalia to N Mozambique and in India except the south.
- A.a. singalensis in South India and Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Aerial; nests on cliffs, buildings and bridges.
Behaviour
Breeding
The 1-4 eggs are laid in nests built in colonies on cliffs, buildings and bridges.
Diet
Diet includes insects caught in flight.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Little Swift. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Little_Swift
