African Swift © pinterest.com

Vagrant to Ethiopia.

Forms superspecies with Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus), Forbes-Watson's Swift (Apus berliozi) and Bradfield's Swift (Apus bradfieldi). Has been considered conspecific with Common Swift (Apus apus) and also with Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) and Nyanza Swift (Apus niansae). Subspecies sladeniae and balstoni (possibly with mayottensis) sometimes treated as two further distinct species. It has been suggested that if subspecies hollidayi can remain a distinct breeding population despite presence of migratory nominate subspecies during local breeding season, then it may prove to be a separate species. Current knowledge about taxonomic status of glanvillei, sladeniae and serlei to some extent compromised by scarcity of specimens. Racial identity of population resident in northern Liberia unknown, but may prove to be sladeniae. In contrast, sladeniae might even be applicable only to birds of Bioko.

The following 9 subspecies are recognised:

• glanvillei Benson, 1967   -  Sierra Leone.
• sladeniae (Ogilvie-Grant, 1904)   -  South-western Nigeria, western Cameroon, western Angola and Bioko. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Fernando Po Swift (Apus sladeniae).
• serlei De Roo, 1970   -  Western Cameroon (Bamenda).
• roehli Reichenow, 1906   -  Eastern Ethiopia, north-eastern Uganda and Kenya to Malawi and eastern Zaire. Also Sombo in north-eastern Angola.
• hollidayi Benson & Irwin, 1960   -  Victoria Falls, on Zambia/Zimbabwe border.
• oreobates Brooke, 1970   -  Melsettwe to Mashonaland (Zimbabwe) and Mt Gorongoza ­(Mozambique).
• barbatus (Sclater, 1865)   -  South Africa, and may occur western into mountainous areas of Namibia; wintering grounds unknown.
• mayottensis (Nicoll, 1906)   -  Comoro Is. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Madagascar Swift (Apus balstoni).
• balstoni (Bartlett, 1880)   -  Madagascar region. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Madagascar Swift (Apus balstoni).

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BirdLife International For more information about the African Swift see... BirdLife International Species Factsheet. Articles about the African Swift If you would like to read any articles about the African Swift... Show Articles (0) No Pictures of African Swift If Birdpedia has no pictures of African Swift or you would like to see more, then try the following...       From BING (2) No Videos of African Swift If Birdpedia has no videos of African Swift or you would like to see more, then try the following..       From BING (0) Where can I observe this species? Select an area (or leave blank) to see locations where this species has been recorded. Area   NIGERIA   All    Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or   Find GPS using Google Maps Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings On What Field Trips was this species observed? Select an area (or leave blank), and a date range, to see field trips on which this species has been recorded. Area   NIGERIA   All    From To     Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings Latest Sightings for African Swift Select the Area to restrict the Sightings. Area   NIGERIA   All