Mottled Swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) [XC333260]
by Bram Piot from Plateau NE of Coyah, Guinea (song)
Mottled Swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) [XC811264]
by Bram Piot from Hells Gate National Park (near Sulmac Village), Naivasha, Nakuru County, Kenya (flight call)
Subspecies
Genus Tachymarptis has commonly been merged into Apus, but nowadays increasingly separated; differs in feather lice, foot structure of nestling, large size and tendency towards white underparts. It has been suggested that resemblance to Bradfield's Swift (Apus bradfieldi) may be more than superficial, hinting at closer alliance between these forms, which were formerly considered conspecific.
Subspecies proposed for birds from western slope Mt Ruwenzori (schubotzi) and north-western Cameroon (bamendae) not distinct from nominate subspecies and included within it. Includes "Apus reichenowi".
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
lowei (Bannerman, 1920) - Sierra Leone to Nigeria.
furensis (Lynes, 1920) - Darfur (western Sudan).
aequatorialis (von Müller, 1851) - Eritrea and Ethiopia south to Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe. Also west-central Angola and north-western Cameroon (Bamenda).