Common Swift

This species is defined as a Review Species. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Apus apus
Malay Name: Layang-layang Sabit Erasia
Chinese Name: 普通雨燕

Range:
Breeds from Europe to East Asia; winters primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, but some Asian populations appear to be migratory as well.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: apus, pekinensis.

Local Subspecies: pekinensis

Size: 17 cm

Identification:
A mid-size swift with a typical slender appearance; sickle-shaped wings and a forked tail. In most views appears to be all dark blackish-brown, but the throat and forehead are pale whitish.

Similar looking species: Asian Palm Swift, Pacific Swift, House Swift

Habitat: An exclusively aerial species on migration over a variety of open habitats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds on the wing on flying invertebrates.

Local Status: Very rare vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured articles:

Past accepted records in our database:

Past records, bar chart (see more bar charts):

Common Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Common Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Common Swift at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Common Swift)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Apus apus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686800A86111691.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021
Chantler, P., Boesman, P. F. D., & Kirwan, G. M. (2020). Common Swift (Apus apus), version 1.0. In del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A., & de Juana, E. (Eds.), Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.comswi.01