- Apus affinis
Identification
Wingspan 33cm. Black, 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.
Six subspecies recognized:
- 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
1-4 eggs are laid in nests built in colonies on cliffs, buildings and bridges.
Diet includes insects caught in flight.
