House Swift
Apus nipalensis
Medium-sized dark swift with small white throat patch and rump patch. Commonly nests in building and cave crevices and often seen in small flocks over valleys, cities, and forests. Plumage pattern is similar to Pacific Swift, which has darker throat and very different shape, with longer, more pointed wings and long, sharply forked tail. White plumage patches distinguish it from Aerodramus swiftlets. Gives a high-pitched, twittering trill.
Identification
The house swift looks quite similar to the little swift. It is a small bird, but a medium-sized swift, with a wingspan of 12.5-14.5 cm. Its body size ranges from 14 to 16 cm and weighs approximately 20-35 g. This species has a dark, slightly forked tail. Other than the white rump band and white throat-patch, the house swift has a black plumage, darker than the little swift.
Taxonomy
The name Apus nipalensis has two parts. Apus is the genus for swifts, and comes from the Latin word for the swift, or swallow with no feet. Nipalensis means from Nepal.<p>Currently, there are four subspecies of the house swift: Apus nipalensis nipalensis, Apus nipalensis subfurcatus, Apus nipalensis furcatus, and Apus nipalensis kuntzi.
- Scientific name
- Apus nipalensis
- Authority
- (Hodgson, 1837)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Apus
Range and habitat
The house swift is highly aerial, spending much of its time feeding in the air. The house swift is generally found on the Asian continent. Each subspecies has a slightly different distribution throughout the continent.<p>House swifts live both in urban and rural areas of Asia. They've been found from the mountainous regions of Nepal and in cities and towns in China, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. It has been found in North America only one time in 2012; it was identified as a house swift after DNA sequencing. However, this observation was unaccepted as the bird was dead when found.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: rising.
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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