Scientific Name: Apus nipalensis
Malay Name: Layang-layang Sabit Biasa
Chinese Name: 小白腰雨燕
Range: Found throughout Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: nipalensis, subfurcatus, furcatus, kuntzi.
Local Subspecies: subfurcatus
Size: 14-15 cm
Identification: Overall blackish plumage with whitish throat, broad clear white rump-band, long scimitar-shaped wings and squarish tail that is only slightly notched.
Similar looking species: Pacific Swift, Common Swift
Habitat: Forested, open and urban areas.
Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds on flying insects, mainly flying ants, termites, bees, wasps and beetles. They also go for other tidbits that they can snatch on the wing like spiders.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bishan Park, Pinnacle@Duxton, Punggol Barat, Lorong Halus, Tuas South and Pulau Ubin.
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (House Swift)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Apus nipalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686861A93129265.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). House Swift. Retrieved on May 30, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/house-swift.