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Horus Swift

Apus horus

Least Concern
Envergadura
30,0 cm
Peso
27,5 g
Familia
Apodidae
Orden
Caprimulgiformes

The Horus Swift (Apus horus) is a bird species in the family Apodidae (vencejos), within the order Caprimulgiformes (chotacabras y vencejos). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 30 cm and a weight of 27.5 g. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.

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A small swift (12-13 cm) found in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East. Dark plumage with a white rump and throat. Aerial insectivore. Colonial nester on cliffs and buildings. Often nests in old swallow nests. Named after the Egyptian god Horus.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
Envergadura 30,0 cm 11.8 in
Peso 27,5 g 0.97 oz

Identificación

Plumaje

Dark sooty-brown; large white rump patch; white throat; pale flanks creating partial white underpart; square-ended tail; African species; compared to Little Swift, paler flanks give a more extensively white underpart impression.

Habitat & Range

Distribución geográfica

Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. Resident in woodland and grassland near rivers.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial foraging.

Estado de conservación

Least Concern
IUCN Red List

Comportamiento y reproducción

Nidificación

Nest type: PL. Incubation: 28 days. Fledging: 42 days.

Tamaño de la puesta

1-4

Sonido

Canto

Sharp, buzzy chip followed by short descending whistle; compact two-part call repeated persistently from elevated perch.

Taxonomía

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Orden Caprimulgiformes (Chotacabras y Vencejos)
Familia Apodidae (Vencejos)
Genus Apus
Especies Apus horus

Distribution

Horus Swift has been recorded in 1 countries.

Presente Not recorded

countries highlighted

External Databases

Preguntas frecuentes

What does the Horus Swift eat?
Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial foraging.
Where does the Horus Swift live?
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. Resident in woodland and grassland near rivers.
Is the Horus Swift endangered?
The Horus Swift has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Horus Swift nest?
Nest type: PL. Incubation: 28 days. Fledging: 42 days.
What does the Horus Swift sound like?
Sharp, buzzy chip followed by short descending whistle; compact two-part call repeated persistently from elevated perch.
How big is the Horus Swift?
The Horus Swift has a wingspan of 30.0 cm, weight of 27.5 g.
What order and family does the Horus Swift belong to?
The Horus Swift (Apus horus) belongs to the order Caprimulgiformes and the family Apodidae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Apodidae family

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