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Swift Apus apus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Apodiformes
Family:
Apodidae
BTO Codes:
SI , SWIFT
EURING No:
7950
Number in Britain:
80 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
apus recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
16 cm
Wingspan:
45 cm
Weight:
M/F: 44 g
Scientific name from:
L.: apus =the swift (from Gr.: a -=without + pous =foot)
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Eurasia, nw Africa, WINTERS: tropical & s Africa
Habitat:
Open country & towns
Diet:
Wide variety of flying insects and spiders caught in flight
TitBit:
By sleeping with half of its brain at a time, the Swift lives a perpetually aerial life, coming down only for a short period each year to breed
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
80 thousand pairs
in 1988-91
Note: Best estimate
First Record:
1544
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Towns
And found in:
Villages
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Average Day of First Arrival:
23 Apr
European Population Size:
Summer:
4.4 to 12 million pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
25 x 16 mm
Egg Weight:
3.5 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
110
Clutch Size:
2 - 3 eggs
Incubation:
19 - 25 days
by the:
-
Fledging:
37 - 56 days
as:
Altricial, naked
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
1591
Adult Survival:
0.808
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
4
years
Typical Lifespan:
9
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
17yr11m
(Switzerland: 21yr 0m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
SO
Wing Length
Adult:
175.1 ± 3.7
Range
169 - 181 mm, N =2130
Juvenile:
169.3 ± 6.6
157 - 177 mm, N =99
Male:
176.2 ± 3.3
170 - 181 mm, N =57
Female:
174.0 ± 4.1
168 - 181 mm, N =143
Weight
Adult:
39.49 ± 3.36
Range
34.00 - 45.20 g , N =1160
Juvenile:
32.12 ± 5.03
27.40 - 44.00 g , N =97
Male:
40.78 ± 4.06
34.10 - 45.50 g , N =24
Female:
41.93 ± 3.68 .
37.30 - 47.00 g , N =93
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Common Swift
Gaelic:
Gobhlan-mòr
Welsh:
Gwennol Ddu
Danish:
Mursejler
Dutch:
Gierzwaluw
Finnish:
Tervakirskuja
French:
Martinet noir
German:
Meuersegler
Hungarian:
Sarlósfecske
Icelandic:
Múrsvölungur
Irish:
Gabhlán Gaoithe
Italian:
Rondone
Norwegian:
Tårnseiler
Polish:
Jerzyk zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Andorinhão-preto
Spanish:
Vencejo común
Swedish:
Tornseglare
Local Names: Devil Bird, Martlett
Collective Noun: Scream
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Lack, D. 1973 Swifts in a tower Chapman & Hall, London
[598.731 LAC]
Lack, A. & Overall, R 2002 The museum swifts Oxford University Museum, Oxford
[598.731 LAC]
Brohall, D. 1980 Devil birds: the life of the swift Hutchinson, London
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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