- Apus batesi
Identification
14 cm; a small dark Apus swift.
- Plumage deep black with an indistinct grey chin and throat
- Deeply forked slim tail
Similar pecies
Bates's Swift is more slender than Little and House Swifts. It is noticeably shorter than the similar Schoutendenapus spp.
Distribution
West and Central Africa. Found locally in Zaire (Kivu) and Central African Republic, further from Cameroon along the coast to Gabon, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Has been recorded from the Upper Guinea forest region between Guinea (Conakry) and Benin and these may represent an unknown population or vagrants.
Generally rare and local, but not globally threatened.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Found over hilly rainforest, with crags and cliffs used by Cliff Swallow spp for nesting.
Behaviour
Flight
Winnowing flight in which only the wingtips appear to move, and very few glides. Does not "jink" into turns but swerves rather elegantly.
Breeding
Apparently uses old Cliff Swallow spp. nests for breeding.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2023) Bates's Swift. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 December 2023 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bates%27s_Swift
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
