African Black Swift
Apus barbatus
The African Black Swift (Apus barbatus) is a uncommon swift found in 22 countries, weighing about 43 g. The African black swift, also known as the African swift or black swift, is a medium-sized bird in the swift family.
About the African Black Swift
The African black swift, also known as the African swift or black swift, is a medium-sized bird in the swift family. It breeds in Africa discontinuously from Liberia, Cameroon, Zaire, Uganda and Kenya southwards to South Africa. The "black swifts" of Madagascar and the Comoros are either taken as two subspecies of the African black swift, or otherwise deemed a full species, the Malagasy black swift.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The African black swift is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long and bulky like a pallid swift; it appears entirely blackish-brown except for a small white or pale grey patch on the chin which is not visible from a distance. It has a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. This species is very similar to the common swift but can be distinguished under optimum viewing conditions by the contrast between its black back and paler secondary wing feathers.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in France.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an African Black Swift?
- The African black swift is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long and bulky like a pallid swift; it appears entirely blackish-brown except for a small white or pale grey patch on the chin which is not visible from a distance. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an African Black Swift?
- The African Black Swift is a small sized bird weighing about 43 g.
- Where can you see an African Black Swift?
- The African Black Swift occurs in 22 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Lesotho.
- What birds look similar to an African Black Swift?
- The African Black Swift is most easily confused with the Fork-tailed Swift, the Plain Swift and the Horus Swift.
Learn the African Black Swift for real
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