- 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 21 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Little_Swift
