Name

Apus apus

Common swift

Framing

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Caprimulgiformes

Family: Apodidae

Genus: Apus

Species: apus

Habitat

Towns and cities, it feeds by flying over the surrounding countryside. It occupies all Palearctic habitats, from deserts to tundra, and from sea level to high mountains. It is undemanding and only requires areas with flying insects, water and hollows in which to build its nest.

Feeding

Insectivore. It is a specialist in catching small flying insects, known as aeroplankton. The method used for this is the sweep in flight, with its mouth open like a butterfly catcher. It drinks in flight.

Distribution

Nesting throughout the mid-latitude band of the Palaearctic, spending the winter in Africa south of the equator. Present throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

Conservation status

Not threatened. In Spain it is protected, as are its chicks, nests and eggs, as it is included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime.

Additional information

Free. Gregarious. Small bird with very long, narrow, sharp crescent-shaped wings, short forked tail and very fast flight. The bill is very short, but has a very wide mouth used for catching insects in flight. Very dark plumage that appears completely black from a distance, except for a small white patch on the throat. Easily confused with the Pallid Swift. They often fly in large groups, chasing each other and emitting shrill cries. Trans-Saharan summer migrant.