🐦

Common Swift

Apus apus

Least Concern

Wingspan

32.3 cm

Weight

41.5 g

Family

Apodidae

Order

Caprimulgiformes

About

A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm, wingspan 42-48 cm) with dark blackish-brown plumage and a pale throat. One of the most aerial of all birds, spending nearly its entire life on the wing, sleeping, eating, and even mating in flight. Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	32.3 cm	12.7 in
Weight	41.5 g	1.46 oz

Identification

Plumage

Uniformly blackish-brown above and below; pale whitish throat patch; slightly forked tail; no other pale markings; sexes identical; the archetypal swift shape with scythe-like wings; widespread Palearctic breeder and Sub-Saharan winterer.

Habitat & Range

🏜️ Desert 🌲 Forest 🌾 Grassland

Geographic Range

Breeds across Europe and Asia from the British Isles east to Siberia and China. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.

Diet & Feeding

Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: CP. Incubation: 20 days. Fledging: 37-56 days.

Clutch Size

1-4

Sound

Song

Crisp, two-noted call: quick sharp chip followed by descending whistle; distinctive pattern repeated at measured intervals.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts)
Family	Apodidae (Swifts)
Genus	Apus
Species	Apus apus

Distribution

Common Swift has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Present Not recorded