Mascarene swiftlet

Aerodramus francicus

Photo by Kévin Le Pape (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Mascarene swiftlet (en); andorinhão-das-Mascarenhas (pt); salangane de Mascareignes (fr); salangana de las Mascareñas (es); Mauritiussalangane (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the islands of Réunion and Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 9-9,5 g.

Habitat:
The Mascarene swiftlet breeds in lava tunnels, been found foraging over a wide range of habitats including moist tropical forests, grasslands, scrublands, second growths and arable land.

Diet:
They forage in flocks, mainly taking flying insects on the wing. Among their prey are flies, flying ants, beetles, bugs, barkflies and spiders.

Breeding:
Mascarene swiftlets can breed virtually all year round. They nest in colonies within lava tunnels, with each pair building a bracket-shaped nest made of lichen filaments held together with saliva. The female lays 1-2 eggs which are incubated for 21-23 days. The chicks fledge 45-55 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a relatively small breeding range and the global population is estimated at 6.000-15.000 individuals. Over recent years, the population on Réunion has increased substantially, whilst that on Mauritius has declined, making it difficult to judge the overall population trend. The main threats affecting this species are nest collecting for bird's nest soup and vandalism of caves. Tourism activities such as canyoning and caving may also cause disturbance to breeding colonies.

Madagascar spinetail

Zoonavena grandidieri

Photo by Markus Lagerqvist (PBase)

Common name:
Madagascar spinetail (en); rabo-espinhoso-de-Madagáscar (pt); martinet de Grandidier (fr); vencejo malgache (es); Madagaskarflagermussejler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species has two disjunct subspecies. Z.g. grandidieri is found throughout Madagascar, while Z.g. mariae is only found on the island of Grand Comoro, in the Comoro Islands.

Size:
These birds are 12 cm long.

Habitat:
They are mostly found over forests, including both dry and moist tropical forests, and gallery forest, also using arable land. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 1.750 m.

Diet:
They forage low over the forest canopy, taking various flying insects.

Breeding:
Madagascar spinetails are believed to breed in April-January, but there is no further information regarding their reproduction.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as rather common, especially in eastern Madagascar. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Biscutate swift

Streptoprocne biscutata

Photo by Pia Öberg (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
biscutate swift (en); andorinhão-de-coleira-falha (pt); martinet à collier interompu (fr); vencejo nuquiblanco brasileño (es); schildsegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species is found along eastern Brazil, from Ceara south to Parana and northern Rio Grande do Sul, and also marginally into south-eastern Paraguay.

Size:
These birds are 20-22 cm long and have a wingspan of around 50 cm. They weigh 85-100 g.

Habitat:
The biscutate swift is mostly found in moist tropical forests, but also in temperate forests and second growths, particularly near rocky areas and waterfalls. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 2.500 m.

Diet:
They hunt flying insects on the wing.

Breeding:
Biscutate swifts breed in October-June. They nest in horizontal or slightly inclined rocky substrata on otherwise vertical walls or crevices, often in caves, where they build a circular nest made of mosses, lichens and leaves held together with saliva. The female lays 1-4 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 18-28 days. The chicks fledge about 28-39 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common but patchily distributed. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Fork-tailed palm-swift

Tachornis squamata

Photo by Dave Curtis (Flickr)

Common name:
fork-tailed palm-swift (en); andorinhão-do-buriti (pt); martinet claudia (fr); vencejillo tijereta (es); gabelschwanzsegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species is found in northern South America, east of the Andes. they are present from Colombia, Venezuela and the Guyanas south to Bolivia and southern Brazil as far as Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo.

Size:
These birds are 11,5-14 cm long and weigh 11 g.

Habitat:
The fork-tailed palm-swift is mostly found in dry tropical forests, but also uses moist tropical forests, wet grasslands, marshes, second growths and urban areas. They are present at altitudes of 200-900 m.

Diet:
They forage on the wing, taking various flying insects.

Breeding:
These birds nest on a small cup made of feathers, saliva and plant material, placed on the inside of a dead leaf of a moriche palm Mauritia flexuosa. The female lays 2-4 white eggs which she incubates for 19-21 days. There is no available information regarding the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Short-tailed swift

Photo by Patrick Ingremeau (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
short-tailed swift (en); andorinhão-de-rabo-curto (pt); martinet polioure (fr); vencejo rabón (es); stutzschwanzsegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species is found from Panama south to Bolivia and central and western Brazil.

Size:
These bird are 10-11 cm long and weigh 20 g.

Habitat:
The short-tailed swift is found in moist tropical forests, dry tropical forests and savannas, scrublands, second growths and plantations, often favouring areas near water. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.300 m.

Diet:
They feed on flying insects, including winged ants and termite alates.

Breeding:
Short-tailed swifts nest in a shallow half-saucer made of twigs and saliva, attached to a vertical surface such as a chimney, manhole, well or a natural cave or tree cavity. The female lays 3-7 white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 17-18 days. The chicks leave the nests 2 weeks after hatching, but remain near it, clinging to the cavity wall without flying, for another 2 weeks.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The short-tailed swift is suspected to lose 15-17,5% of suitable habitat within its range in the near future, based on a model of Amazonian deforestation, being therefore suspected to suffer a moderate decline in the next 2 decades.

American black swift

Cypseloides niger

Photo by Glen Tepke (Mango Verde)

Common name:
American black swift (en); andorinhão-preto-americano (pt); martinet sombre (fr); vencejo negro (es); schwarzsegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species breeds in a few patches along western North America and Central America, namely in southern British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, in Washington, Montana, California and Colorado, United States, in western and southern Mexico, and south to Panama. They are also found in the Caribbean, from Cuba and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Most populations migrate, but it remains unclear where most of the birds spend the winter, although some of the birds have been tracked as far south as Brazil.

Size:
These birds are 18 cm long and weigh 35-45 g.

Habitat:
The American black swift breeds in sea caves, coastal cliffs and wet cliffs in inland canyons. They also use moist tropical forests and second growths, from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt insects on the wing, mostly taking flying ants and termites, but also bees, wasps, beetles, flies and leafhoppers.

Breeding:
In North America, these birds breed in June-September. The nest is made of mud, and sometimes grasses, sea weeds or moss and attached to a rocky wall, most often in an inaccessible cliff or cave and near dripping water sources such as waterfalls. The female lays a single eggs, which is incubated by both parents for 23-29 days. The chick is fed by both parents and fledges 47-50 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range. There are no reliable data on population sizes, but the population appears to have declined by 6% over the last 40 years in the United States and larger declines may have taken place in Mexico. Due to their very specific nesting site requirements they may be threatened by alteration of the normal hydrological cycle due to habitat destruction, alteration of stream flow, or water diversions

Pallid swift

Apus pallidus

Photo by Daniele Occhiato (Bird Forum)

Common name:
pallid swift (en); andorinhão-pálido (pt); martinet pâle (fr); vencejo pálido (es); fahlsegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species breeds around the Mediterranean, from Morocco, southern Portugal and Spain to Egypt and Israel, and also along the coasts of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. ost populations migrate south to winter in the Sahel, from southern Mauritania to Guinea and east to South Sudan. There are resident populations in Egypt, along the Nile river, and also in Niger and Chad.

Size:
These birds are 16-17 cm long and have a wingspan of 42-46 cm. They weigh about 50 g.

Habitat:
The pallid swift breed in cliffs and other rocky areas, and also within urban areas, including the centre of large cities. They forage over a variety of habitats, including coastal and inland wetlands, grasslands, savannas and gardens. This species occurs from sea level up to an altitude of 2.700 m.

Diet:
The forage exclusively on the wing, taking small flying insects.

Breeding:
Pallid swifts breed in March-September, varying between different parts of their range. They nest in crevices on buildings or cliffs, where they build a shallow cup of straw, grass, and feathers, cemented together with saliva. There the female lays 1-3 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 20-23 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 44-48 days after hatching. Each pair can raise 1-2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population was roughly estimated at 250.000-2.000.000 individuals, although this estimate requires further validation. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Mottled swift

Tachymarptis aequatoria

Photo by Fran Trabalon (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
mottled swift (en); andorinhão-malhado (pt); martinet marbré (fr); vencejo ecuatorial (es); schuppensegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This African species is patchily distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Sudan and south to Angola and through Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania down to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Size:
These large swifts are 22 cm long and weigh 90-95 g.

Habitat:
The mottled swift breeds in granite outcrops, foraging over nearby wetlands, dry scrublands, dry grasslands, dry savannas and also over urban areas. They are mostly present at altitudes of 2.000-3.000 m.

Diet:
They catch flying insects on the wing, mainly bees, wasps, flying ants, termite alates, flies and beetles.

Breeding:
Mottled swifts breed in June-January. They are monogamous, nesting in colonies of about 25 pairs. The nest is a strongly-built half cup with a rim of feathers, seeds and leaves, glued together with saliva and typically placed beneath an overhang or in the vertical crack of a cave. There the female lays 1-3 eggs which are incubated by both sexes. There is no information regarding the length of the incubation period, but the chicks possibly fledge about 28 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large but patchy breeding range. The mottled swift is reported to be common to abundant throughout its range and the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Horus swift

Apus horus

Photo by Mikael Nord (Praktejder)

Common name:
horus swift (en); andorinhão-horus (pt); martinet horus (fr); vencejo horus (es); horussegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, with population in Nigeria, Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia, and through East Africa into their main stronghold in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. There are also some scattered population in Angola and Namibia.

Size:
These birds are 15 cm long and have a wingspan of 33-35 cm. They weigh around 26 g.

Habitat:
The horus swift is mostly found over open areas, such as grassland, fynbos, desert, lakes, semi-desert, savanna and coastal dunes, generally avoiding mountainous areas.They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
They mainly catch insects on the wing, but can also descend to the ground, gleaning insects and other arthropods from the foliage of trees or bushes. They are known too take bugs, beetles, flies, termite alates weevils, ants, wasps and also spiders.

Breeding:
Horus swifts are monogamous, colonial nesters, forming colonies of up to 12 breeding pairs, sometimes together with other species such as plain martins Riparia paludicola and common starlings Sturnus vulgaris. They nest on old tunnels excavated by other birds in sand or clay riverbanks, road cuttings, quarries or mine dumps, building a small pad at the end of the tunnel using grass, leaves, plastic and feathers all glued together with their saliva. There the female lays 1-4 eggs which are incubated for about 28 days. The chicks are cared for by both parents and fledge 6 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be extremely common and widespread in areas of suitable habitat. The population is suspected to be increasing owing to a range expansion following a similar expansion by the swallows and martins on whose nests they often breed.

Chimney swift

Chaetura pelagica

Photo by Daniele Occhiato (PBase)

Common name:
chimney swift (en); andorinhão-migrador (pt); martinet ramoneur (fr); vencejo de chimenea (es); schornsteinsegler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae

Range:
This species breeds in western North America, from Alberta to Newfoundland, in Canada, and throughout the western United States down to Florida and Texas. They migrate south to winter in north-western South America, from Colombia and Venezuela to Peru, northern Bolivia and north-western Brazil.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and have a wingspan of 27-30 cm. They weigh 17-30 g.

Habitat:
During the breeding season the chimney swift is mainly found near human settlements. Outside the breeding season they are also found in irrigated agricultural areas, along rivers bordered by forests, and along the edges of rainforests and secondary growths. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.500 m.

Diet:
They feed exclusively while in flight, taking various flying insects and spiders.

Breeding:
Chimney swifts are monogamous and may mate for life. They breed in May-July and form colonies from a few pairs up to thousands of individuals. Each pairs builds a cup-shaped nest made of small sticks and twigs, held together by saliva and glued to the inside of a wall or chimney with saliva. There the female lays 3-7 glossy white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 19-21 days. The chicks may leave the nest 14-19 days after hatching, but typically only start to fly about 1 month after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 15 million individuals. This population is likely much large than what is was before the urban development of eastern north America, as they took advantage of chimneys and other human structures for nesting. However, the population as declined in recent decades, by as much much as 40% since 1980, mainly due to the loss of roosting and nesting sites caused by logging operations, the demolition of old abandoned buildings and, especially, the sharp decline in the number of suitable and accessible traditional chimneys.

exclusively while in flight

Little swift

Apus affinis

Photo by Trevor Hardaker (Biodiversity Explorer)

Common name:

little swift (en); andorinhão-pequeno (pt); martinet des maisons (fr); vencejo moro (es); haussegler (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

This species is found throughout most of sub-Saharian Africa, in north-west Africa and in scattered population across de Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Size:

The little swift is 12 cm long and has a wingspan of 26-30 cm. They weigh 18-30 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found breeding around human settlements or in rocky cliffs. They forage over a wide range of habitats, including forest, savanna, scrubland and grassland, and generally prefer to be in the proximity of a water source.

Diet:

They feed exclusively on arthropods, hunting their prey on the wing. They are known to eat dragonflies, damselflies, moths, butterflies, bugs, beetles, lies, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, termite alates, mantids, lacewings, antlions and spiders.

Breeding:

Little swifts can breed all year rounds, varying between different parts of their range. They form small colonies of up to 30 pairs, each pair building an untidy closed bowl made of grass and feathers glued together with saliva. These nests are usually placed in human structures, such as in the eaves of buildings or under bridges, but it may also use cliffs. They sometimes also use abandoned or unfinished swallow nests. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 20-26 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 36-40 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common in large parts of its range. The population is suspected to be increasing owing to a range expansion caused primarily by its adaptation to nesting in buildings.

Fork-tailed swift

Apus pacificus

(Photo from Bird Forum)

Common name:

fork-tailed swift (en); andorinhão-de-cauda-forcada (pt); martinet de Sibérie (fr); vencejo del Pacífico (es); Pazifiksegler (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

This species is found breeding in eastern Asia, from Siberia to Kamchatka and Japan , across eastern China to Annam ,Vietnam ,Thailand and Burma. They migrate south to winter in southern India, Indonesia and Australia.

Size:

The fork-tailed swift is 18-21 cm long and has a wingspan of 40-42 cm. They weigh 30-40 g.

Habitat:

This species is almost exclusively aerial, only landing to nest. They can be found over a wide range of habitats, from coastal areas to boreal forests, plains, low scrubs, heathlands and saltmarshes. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 4000 m and generally nest on mountain cliffs or island rock caves.

Diet:

These birds are strictly insectivorous, eating small bees, wasps, termites and moths which are caught on the wing.

Breeding:

Fork-tailed swifts breed in March-August. The nest is made of grass, moss, and leaves, glued together with sticky saliva, and is usually built on a cliff ridge or under a roof crevice. There the female lays 1-3 eggs which are incubated by both sexes for 16-22 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 40-41 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be generally common throughout most of its breeding range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Edible-nest swiftlet

Aerodramus fuciphagus

(Photo from Flickriver)

Common name:

edible-nest swiftlet (en); andorinhão-de-ninho-comestível (pt); salangane à nid blanc (fr); rabitojo de nido comestible (es); weißnestsalangane (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

These birds are found in south-east Asia, in Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali, Flores, Sumba, Savu, Timor, Burma, in the Andaman and Nicobar islands and in the Maratua archipelago.

Size:

The edible-nest swiftlet is 11-12 cm long and weighs 10-15 g.

Habitat:

These birds can forage over a wide range of habitats, including mangroves, rainforests, mountain forests and even agricultural land, namely rubber plantations. They breed in caves, cliffs and sometimes in abandoned buildings. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 2.800 m.

Diet:

They hunt flying insects on the wing, mostly taking Hymenoptera, Ephemeroptera, Homoptera and Diptera.

Breeding:

Edible-nest swiftlets can breed all year round, but with a peak in October-February. They nest in colonies, typically in a cave or cliff or sometimes in an abondoned building, each pair building a bracket-shaped nest which is white and translucent and is made of layers of hardened saliva attached to the rock. There the female lays 2 white eggs which are incubated for 20-26 days. The chicks fledge 40-46 days after hatching. Each pair may produce 1-3 clutches per year.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be abundant in suitable habitat. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to over harvesting of eggs, nestlings and especially nests which are considered a delicacy and used to cook the Chinese swallow's nest soup.

Australian swiftlet

Aerodramus terraereginae

Photo by Ian Montgomery (Birdway)

Common name:

Australian swiftlet (en); andorinhão-australiano (pt); salangane d'Australie (fr); salangana australiana (es); Südseesalangane (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

This species is endemic to Queensland, in north-eastern Australia, being found in the mainland and in a number of offshore islands in that region..

Size:

This small swift is 11-12 cm long and has a wingspan of 25-28 cm. They weigh 9-12 g.

Habitat:

Australian swiftlets are usually found over dry savanna but also seen over rainforest margin, pastures, beaches and gorges. They are mostly present near the coast and in offshore islands and tend to remain at altitudes below 500 m.

Diet:

They take insects and drifting spiders in flight.

Breeding:

Australian swiftlets breed in October-March. They nest in colonies of hundreds of individuals, typically located in caves or sometimes amongst boulders. The nest is translucent and basket-shaped, and made from saliva mixed with grasses, casuarina needles, twigs and feathers. It is attached to the walls or ceiling of the cave, 2-20 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 successive clutches, each consisting of 1 egg, so that the incubation of the second egg is aided by warmth from the first chick and the parents can thus spend more time gathering food. Each egg is incubated by both parents for 26-27 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 45-51 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a relatively large breeding range. Although the global population size is yet to be quantified, the Australian swiftlet is described as common, particularly in the lowlands. Numbers are believed to be declining in several colonies, but overall this species is not considered threatened at present.

White-throated needletail

Hirundapus caudacutus

Photo by Johan Stenlund (PBase)

Common name:

white-throated needletail (en); andorinhão-mongol (pt); martinet épineux (fr); vencejo mongol (es); stachelschwanzsegler (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

They breed in Asia, from central and south-eastern Siberia and Mongolia, east to coastal Russia, northern Japan and sorth-eastern China. A separate population breeds in south-western China and the Himalayas in northern India and Pakistan. The wintering areas mostly lay in eastern Australia, with some birds also staying in New Zealand, Papua New-Guinea and south-east Asia.

Size:

The white-throated needletail is 20-22 cm long and has a wingspan of 43-48 cm. They weigh 100-140 g.

Habitat:

This species breeds in wooded lowlands and sparsely vegetated hills, as well as mountains covered with coniferous forests. They forage aerially, at heights up to cloud level, above a wide variety of habitats ranging from heavily treed forests to open habitats, such as farmland, heathland or mudflats, though they sometimes forage much closer to the ground in open habitats. They sometimes forage over recently disturbed areas, such as forest that has been recently cleared or burnt, or above paddocks as they are being ploughed or slashed. They often forage in areas of updraughts, such as ridges, cliffs or sand-dunes or in the smoke of bush fires, or in whirlwinds.

Diet:

They mostly take insects and spiders in flight. Among their insect prey are beetles, cicadas, wasps, flies, moths, locusts, ants and termites.

Breeding:

White-throated needletails breed in May-June. Both parents take equal part in the breeding process. The nest is placed in a vertical hollow in a tall coniferous tree or on a vertical rock-face, either comprising a small bracket or half-cup of thin twigs and straw cemented together by the bird's saliva and glued to the side of the hollow or rock, or a shallow scrape among debris accumulated at the bottom of a tree hollow. The female lays 2-7 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 21 days. The chicks fledge after 40–42 days.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

African palm swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Photo by J.M. de Bruyn (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

African palm swift (en); andorinhão-das-palmeiras (pt); martinet des palmes (fr); vencejo palmero (es); palmensegler (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

This species is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar. They are also found in the south-west of the Arabian Peninsula.

Size:

These birds are 16-17 cm long. They weigh 10-14 g.

Habitat:

The African palm swift generally prefers savannas and grasslands with with scattered palm trees. They are also found in towns with indigenous or exotic palms, such as Livistona and Washingtonia.

Diet:

It almost exclusively eats flying insects, hunting mainly just above the tree canopy. They mostly take beetles, flies, termites and ants.

Breeding:

These monogamous birds can breed all year round, with a peak in August-November. Both sexes build the nest, which is a shallow cup of feathers and plant detritus, glued together with saliva. It is usually placed on the upper side of a palm frond. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which she immediately glues to the nest using her own saliva. The eggs are then incubated by both sexes for 18-22 days. The chicks are brooded and fed by both parents until fledging, which takes place 29-33 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range, being described as common to locally abundant. The African palm swift is not threatened at present.

Alpine swift

Tachymarptis melba

Photo by Daniele Occhiato (PBase)

Common name:

alpine swift (en); andorinhão-real (pt); martinet à ventre blanc (fr); vencejo real (es); alpensegler (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae

Range:

The alpine swift breeds in the Iberian Peninsula, in southern and Alpine Europe through France, Italy, Switzerland, the Balkans and Greece. Also in Mediterranean Africa and through the Middle East into Asia Minor, India and the Himalayas. They winter further south, both in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Indian sub-continent.

Size:

These large swifts are 21 cm long and have a wingspan of 55 cm. They weigh 100 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found breeding in cliffs in mountainous areas, in rocky habitats in deep ravines, but also in the centre of large cities like Istanbul. They often hunt over wetland habitats such as rivers, swamps and seasonally flooded grasslands.

Diet:

They eat flying insects and spiders caught in flight. The honey bee Apis mellifera is one of their major preys.

Breeding:

Alpine swifts build their nest in colonies, in a suitable cliff hole or cave. Both the male and the female make a shallow cup of stems and grass, fixed with saliva. The breeding season is in April-June, during which one clutch of 1-4 eggs is laid. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs for 20 days, and both parents rear the chicks until they are ready to fledge when they are 50 to 70 days old. They are old enough to breed at the age of 2-3 years

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and a total population estimated at 1-4 million.The population is suspected to be stable and there is no evidence for any declines or substantial threats.