>Apus sladeniae (Fernando Po Swift)

Fernando Po Swift

Fernando Po Swift
Conservation status
Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. sladeniae
Binomial name
Apus sladeniae (Ogilvie-Grant, 1904)
Synonyms
Apus barbatus ssp. sladeniae (Ogilvie-Grant, 1904)

The Fernando Po Swift (Apus sladeniae) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria.

>Apus batesi (Bates's Swift)

Bates's Swift

 

Bates's Swift
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. batesi
Binomial name
Apus batesi (Sharpe, 1904)

The Bates's Swift (Apus batesi) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria.

>Apus caffer (White-rumped Swift)

White-rumped Swift

White-rumped Swift
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. caffer
Binomial name
Apus caffer (Lichtenstein, 1823)

The White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) is a small swift. Although this bird is superficially similar to a House Martin, it is completely unrelated to that passerine species. The resemblances between the swallows and swifts are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

Swifts have very short legs that they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. They never settle voluntarily on the ground, and spend most of their lives in the air, feeding on insects that they catch in their beaks. They drink on the wing.

White-rumped Swifts breed in much of sub-Saharan Africa, and have expanded into Morocco and southern Spain. The populations in Spain, Morocco and the south of Africa are migratory, although their wintering grounds are not definitively known. Birds in tropical Africa are resident apart from seasonal movements.

This species appropriates the nests of little swifts and those swallows which build retort-shaped nests. In Europe and north Africa, this usually means the Red-rumped Swallow, but south of the Sahara other species like Wire-tailed Swallow are also parasitised. The original owners of the nests are driven away, or the white-rumps settle in the nest and refuse to move. Once occupied, the nest is lined with feathers and saliva, and one or two eggs are laid.

The habitat of this species is dictated by that of its hosts, and is therefore normally man-made structures such as bridges and buildings.

This 14-15.5 cm long species has, like its relatives, a short forked tail and long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. It is entirely dark except for a pale throat patch and a narrow white rump. It is similar to the closely related Little Swift, but is slimmer, darker and has a more forked tail and a narrower white rump.

This is a quiet species compared to Little Swift, but a twittering trill is sometimes given.

>Apus horus (Horus Swift)

Horus Swift

Horus Swift
Horus Swift in South Luangwa National Park,Zambia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. horus
Binomial name
Apus horus (Heuglin, 1869)

The Horus Swift, Apus horus, is a small bird in the swift family. It breeds in sub-Saharan Africa. It has an extensive continuous distribution from eastern and southern South Africa north to southern Zambia and central Mozambique, and has recently colonised the De Hoop Nature Reserve area of the Western Cape.

It also occurs very discontinuously in much of the rest of the sub-Saharan region, with the Ethiopian mountains and the area from central Kenya into Uganda having large populations. Identification difficulties confuse the limits of this species’ range.

Birds in South Africa are migratory, wintering further north. Other populations are resident apart from local movements.

The Horus Swift breeds in old burrows of bee-eaters, Ground Woodpeckers, kingfishers and martins, which are typically in natural or artificial sandy banks. The flat nest of vegetation and hair, glued with saliva is built at the end of the tunnel and 1-4 eggs are laid. The eggs are incubated for 28 days to hatching, and the fledging period is about 6 weeks.

This species is not colonial, but the nature of its breeding habitat means that a number of pairs may be scattered through a bee-eater or Banded Martin colony. It feeds at middle levels over adjacent habitats, but avoids large towns.

The Horus Swift is 13-15 cm long and quite bulky. It appears entirely blackish except for a white patch on the chin and a white rump. It has a medium length forked tail. It has a fluttering flight like Little Swift. Little Swift has a square tail, and more extensive white on the rump than Horus, and White-rumped Swift has a more deeply forked tail and a narrower white band. The call is a buzzing peeeeooo, peeeeooo.

The paler subspecies A. h. fuscobrunneus of southwestern Angola has a small grey throat patch and a brown rump. The form toulsoni of northwestern Angola and Zimbabwe is a dark morph of nominate A. h. horus, with a dark rump and small throat patch. Both dark forms have sometimes been split as separate species.

Horus, whose name this bird commemorates, was the ancient Egyptian god of the sun, son of Osiris and Isis.

>Apus nipalensis (House Swift)

House Swift

 

House Swift
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. nipalnsis
Binomial name
Apus nipalensis (Hodgson, 1837)

The House Swift (Apus nipalensis) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is found in Nepal, and Southeast Asia. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Little Swift.

>Apus affinis (Little Swift)

Little Swift

Little Swift
In India.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. affinis
Binomial name
Apus affinis (JE Gray, 1830)
Summer      Resident

In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

The Little Swift (Apus affinis), is a small bird, superficially similar to a Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles. The former eastern race, House Swift, is usually considered a separate species, Apus nipalensis.

These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet". They never settle voluntarily on the ground.

Little Swifts breed around habitation and cliffs from Africa northeastwards through southern India and Sri Lanka. Unlike the more northerly Common Swift, many birds are resident, but some populations are migratory, and winter further south than their breeding areas. They wander widely on migration, and are seen as rare vagrants in much of Europe and Asia.

At nest in Hyderabad, India.

Little Swifts build their nests in hole in buildings or sometimes on cliffs, laying 1-4 eggs. A swift will return to the same site year after year, rebuilding its nest when necessary. A species of bedbugCimex hemipterus has been recorded from its nest in India.

Little Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks. They drink on the wing, but roost on vertical cliffs or walls. They are notoriously slow risers in the mornings.

Little Swifts are readily identified by their small size. Their wingspan is 33 cm compared to the 42 cm of Common Swift. They are black except for a white rump, the white extending on to the flanks. They have a short square tail. The flight is fluttering like a House Martin.

The call is a high twittering.

>Apus acuticauda (Dark-rumped Swift)

Dark-rumped Swift

 

Dark-rumped Swift
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. acuticauda
Binomial name
Apus acuticauda (Jerdon, 1864)

The Dark-rumped Swift (Apus acuticauda) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is found in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

>Apus cooki (Cook's Swift)

Cook's Swift

 

Cook's Swift
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. cooki
Binomial name
Apus cooki (Harington, 1913)

The Cook's's Swift (Apus cooki), is a small bird, superficially similar to a House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet". They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Blyth's Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks.

Cook's Swifts breed in limestone caves of Thailand, Myanmar and Indochina. The species has a green iridescence, a shallow tail fork and is a short distance migrant. A 2011 study has many taxonomists splitting this species from the Fork-tailed Swift complex.

These swifts build their nests on cliffs, laying 2-3 eggs. A swift will return to the same site year after year, rebuilding its nest when necessary.

Cook's Swifts are similar in size to Common Swift, and they are black except for a white rump. They can be distinguished from a partially leucistic Common Swift by the deeper tail fork, longer wings, bigger head and larger white throat patch.

>Apus leuconyx (Blyth's Swift)

Blyth's Swift

Blyth's Swift
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. leuconyx
Binomial name
Apus leuconyx (Blyth, 1845)

The Blyth's Swift (Apus leuconyx), is a small bird, superficially similar to a House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet". They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Blyth's Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks.

Blyth's Swifts breeds from the outer Himalayas through the Assam hills. This species is migratory, and winters in India and Sri Lanka. A 2011 study has many taxonomists splitting this species from the Fork-tailed Swift complex.

These swifts build their nests on cliffs, laying 2-3 eggs. A swift will return to the same site year after year, rebuilding its nest when necessary.

Blyth's Swifts are similar in size to Common Swift, and they are black except for a white rump. They can be distinguished from a partially leucistic Common Swift by the deeper tail fork, longer wings, bigger head and larger white throat patch.

>Apus salimali (Salim Ali's Swift)

Salim Ali's Swift

 

Salim Ali's Swift
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. salimali
Binomial name
Apus salimali (Lack, 1958)

The Salim Ali's Swift (Apus salimali), is a small bird, superficially similar to a House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet". They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Salim Ali's Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks.

Salim Ali's Swifts breeds from the eastern Tibetan Plateau eastwards through western Sichuan province. This species is migratory, however its wintering range is unknown. This swift is longer tailed and a narrower white rump compared to other species in the complex. A 2011 study has many taxonomists splitting this species from the Fork-tailed Swift complex.

These swifts build their nests on cliffs, laying 2-3 eggs. A swift will return to the same site year after year, rebuilding its nest when necessary.

Salim Ali's Swifts are similar in size to Common Swift, and they are black except for a white rump. They can be distinguished from a partially leucistic Common Swift by the deeper tail fork, longer wings, bigger head and larger white throat patch.

It was previously mis-categorized as an alternative name for Apus pacificus kanoi.

>Apus pacificus (Pacific Swift)

Pacific Swift

Pacific Swift
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. pacificus
Binomial name
Apus pacificus (Latham, 1802)

The Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus), is a small bird, superficially similar to a House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolutionreflecting similar life styles.

These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet". They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Pacific Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks.

Pacific Swifts breeds from central Siberia eastwards through Asia. This species is migratory, wintering south to Australia. It is a rare vagrant in western Europe, but has been recorded as far west as Norway and Great Britain. A 2011 study suggests that the populations can be treated as four distinct species. In this treatment Apus pacificus in the more restricted sense refers to the population that breeds from Siberia to Japan and winters in Southeast Asia east to Tasmania. The breeding population of the Tibetan Plateau is longer tailed and a narrow white rump has been called Salim Ali's Swift A. salimali. The breeders along the Himalayas of Nepal and Bhutan are treated as Blyth's Swift (A. leuconyx). Cook's Swift (A. cooki) which breeds in limestone caves of northern Southeast Asia has a green iridescence, a shallow tail fork and is a short distance migrant.

These swifts build their nests on cliffs, laying 2-3 eggs. A swift will return to the same site year after year, rebuilding its nest when necessary.

Pacific Swifts are similar in size to Common Swift, and they are black except for a white rump. They can be distinguished from a partially leucistic Common Swift by the deeper tail fork, longer wings, bigger head and larger white throat patch.

>Apus balstoni (Malagasy Black Swift)

Malagasy Black Swift

Malagasy Black Swift
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. balstoni
Binomial name
Apus balstoni (Bartlett, 1880)

The Malagasy Black Swift or Madagascar Swift (Apus balstoni) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

>Apus bradfieldi (Bradfield's Swift)

Bradfield's Swift

Bradfield's Swift
Flying in Northern Cape, South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Apus
Species:	A. bradfieldi
Binomial name
Apus bradfieldi (Roberts, 1926)

The Bradfield's Swift (Apus bradfieldi) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.