White-rumped Swift
Apus caffer

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– small Swift, smaller than Common Swift
– African species with very restricted breeding range in SW WP
– Northern populations migratory, vagrant to most of Europe

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>


White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
BIF2841, 09/12/2018, NP Tsavo West, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– very dark swift, most of the body black
– well defined, fairly large white throat patch


White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
BIF2842, 09/12/2018, NP Tsavo West, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– back and upperwing coverts glossy black (dull dark brown in Pacific Swift)
– white rump restricted to the back (extending to the flanks in Little Swift and Pacific Swift)


White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
BIF2844, 09/12/2018, NP Tsavo West, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– secondaries with whitish trailing edge (lacking in Pacific Swift)


White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
BIF2843, 08/12/2018, NP Tsavo West, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– from this angle white rump hardly visible
– underside of the body uni-coloured dark (scaly with pale fringes in Pacific Swift)


White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
BIF2845, 09/12/2018, NP Tsavo West, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– when completely fanned tail appears straight cut -> Little Swift


White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
BIF2846, 08/12/2018, NP Tsavo West, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– from below the large, well defined white throat patch stands out
– deeper forked tail than Common Swift


White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
BIF2847, 10/12/2018, NP Tsavo West, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– when the tail is completely folded, the rear end appears very elongated

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– dry, screechy series of calls
– resembles Pallid Swift or Common Swift
calls in flight not yet sound recorded

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Pacific Swift (v)
Common Swift (v) (a)
Pallid Swift (v) (a)
Common House Martin (v)
Little Swift (v)

#nearpasserine

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