Common Swift
Apus apus
Medium-sized swift, dark overall with a white throat. Almost always seen in fast, direct flight, which, as the name suggests, is swift. Bigger and longer-winged than swallows, with strong stiff wingbeats. Lacks the white rump patches of similarly-sized Pacific Swift (and other "fork-tailed swifts") and various needletails. Nests in cavities in cliffs and buildings. Ranges widely over any habitat in search of aerial insects, often over lakes and reservoirs where swallows congregate. Usually flies higher than swallows except when swooping low to drink by splashing briefly on water surface. Calls frequently, especially near the nest, giving a high-pitched wheezing scream.
Identification
Common swifts are 16–17 cm (6.3–6.7 in) long with a wingspan of 38–40 cm (15–16 in) and entirely blackish-brown except for a small white or pale grey patch on their chins which is not visible from a distance. They have a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang.<p>Their call is a loud scream in two different tone pitches, the higher of which issues from the female. They often form "screaming parties" during summer evenings, when 10–20 swifts will gather in flight around their nesting area, calling out and being answered by nesting swifts. Larger "screaming parties" are formed at higher altitudes, especially late in the breeding season. The purpose of these parties is uncertain, but may include ascending to sleep on the wing, while still breeding adults tend to spend the night in the nest. Tracking swifts at their breeding colonies using radar has revealed that individuals often occur in flocks during evening ascent and dawn descent but not during the subsequent evening descent or prior dawn ascent, suggesting that this flocking benefits the swifts via cue acquisition and information exchange between individuals or through extending social behaviour.
Taxonomy
The common swift was one of the many species described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He introduced the binomial name Hirundo apus. The current genus Apus was erected by the Italian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1777 based on tautonymy. The word apus is the Latin word for a swift. It is derived from the Ancient Greek α, a, "without", and πούς, pous, "foot", based on the belief that these birds were a form of swallow that lacked feet.<p>A Central European subspecies which lived during the last ice age has been described as Apus apus palapus.
- Scientific name
- Apus apus
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Apus
Range and habitat
Breeding range: PAL : widespread. Non-breeding range: s AF.
- Breeding range
- PAL : widespread
- Non-breeding range
- s AF
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher
Ficedula strophiata
A bold little flycatcher of mid- to high-altitude forests with a flashing black-and-white tail. Male is brown above with a black face, white eyebrow, and orange throat patch (gorget). The female is essentially a faded version of the male with a dark gray face and a pale, largely unnoticeable gorget. Usually perches at middle levels, sallying from its perch to catch flying insects. Often joins mixed-species feeding flocks.
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Squat, cryptically-plumaged shorebird with a very long bill. Inhabits a wide range of wetland habitats, from damp meadows to saltmarshes. Mostly inconspicuous, feeding in muddy ground by probing with its bill, usually near reeds or other grassy cover. Often not seen until flushed, when it usually rises from fairly close range with a rough rasping call. Breeding birds are more conspicuous, perching on fence posts. In display flight, birds stoop from high overhead and produce a pulsating, bleating sound from air passing through their fanned tail. In Asia, beware of extremely similar Pin-tailed, Swinhoe's, and Latham's Snipes, all of which lack the white trailing edge of Common and have a slower, less erratic flight.
Bridled Quail-Dove
Geotrygon mystacea
A smallish, chunky, ground-dwelling species of forests with dense leaf litter; prefers wetter habitats. Secretive but not shy; sometimes detected by the rustling of leaves it is strolling through. The rather similar Key West Quail-Dove lacks iridescent turquoise on the neck and has a reddish or purple upper back unlike Bridled. Ruddy Quail-Doves have less contrasting facial markings and the males have an entirely rusty back; some also sport a vertical white shoulder stripe. Song is a low, plaintive “hoo-hooooooo,” given at a single pitch with second note initially growing louder and then leveling off; first note sometimes omitted.
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