African Palm Swift

The African palm swift, a small and agile bird, is clothed in a predominantly pale brown plumage. Its wings, long and swept-back, form a crescent or boomerang shape in flight. The bird's physique is slender, and it sports a long, deeply forked tail, typically held closed. Both sexes present a similar appearance, with juveniles distinguished by their shorter tails.

Identification Tips

When observing the African palm swift, look for its distinctive long and deeply forked tail, which is a key characteristic. The bird's pale brown coloration and unique wing shape are also helpful for identification. Its short legs are adapted for clinging to vertical surfaces, as these birds do not settle on the ground voluntarily.

Habitat

The African palm swift is strongly associated with oil palms but is also known to inhabit wooded savannahs, thornbush areas, and cultivated lands. It is a bird that thrives in open country environments.

Distribution

This swift has a broad range across the African continent, being native to countries including Angola, Benin, Botswana, and many others, extending to parts of the Arabian Peninsula such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Behaviour

The African palm swift is a perpetual soarer, spending most of its life aloft. It captures insects in flight with its beak and is known to feed near the ground. Remarkably, it also drinks while on the wing. This species is a common resident breeder in tropical Africa.

Song & calls

The call of the African palm swift is a loud, shrill scream, which can be heard echoing through its open country habitats.

Breeding

Breeding African palm swifts construct their nests from down and feathers, which are affixed to the underside of a palm leaf using their saliva. This saliva also serves to secure the typically two eggs laid within the nest.

Similar Species

The African palm swift is very similar to the Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis, and was once considered the same species. Additionally, the Malagasy palm swift was recently recognized as a separate species from the African palm swift.

Diet and Feeding

These swifts are insectivorous, catching their prey mid-flight. Their feeding habits include foraging close to the ground, which is somewhat unusual for swifts.

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the African palm swift as "Least Concern." There are no apparent threats to its population, which may even be increasing due to the cultivation of the exotic Washington palm.