Little swift

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Little swift
House swift I IMG 3260.jpg
In India.
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae
Genus: Apus
Species: A. affinis
Binomial name
Apus affinis
(JE Gray, 1830)

     Summer      Resident[2]

The little swift (Apus affinis), is a small bird, superficially similar to a barn swallow or house martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles. The former eastern race, house swift, is usually considered a separate species, Apus nipalensis.

These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet". They never settle voluntarily on the ground.

Little swifts breed around habitation and cliffs from southern Spain,[3]Africa northeastwards through southern Pakistan and India and Sri Lanka. Unlike the more northerly common swift, many birds are resident, but some populations are migratory, and winter further south than their breeding areas. They wander widely on migration, and are seen as rare vagrants in much of Europe and Asia.

At nest in Hyderabad, India.
Eggs of Apus affinis

Little swifts build their nests in hole in buildings or sometimes on cliffs, laying 1-4 eggs. A swift will return to the same site year after year, rebuilding its nest when necessary. A species of bedbug Cimex hemipterus has been recorded from its nest in India.[4][5]


Little swifts are readily identified by their small size. Their wingspan is 33 cm compared to the 42 cm of common swift. They are black except for a white rump, the white extending on to the flanks. They have a short square tail. The flight is fluttering like a house martin.

The call is a high twittering.


  1. ^ BirdLife International (2012). "Apus affinis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  2. ^ Phil Chantler & Gerald Driessens (2000). A Guide to the Swifts and Tree Swifts of the World. Pica Press. ISBN 1-873403-83-6. 
  3. ^ {{BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Apus affinis. Downloaded from on 13/10/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from on 13/10/2013. }}
  4. ^ Horvath G (1912). "Revision of the American Cimicidae". Ann. Hist. Nat. Mus. Hungary 10: 257–262. 
  5. ^ Hicks, Ellis A (1959). Checklist and bibliography on the occurrence of insects in birds' nests. Iowa State College Press, Ames. 

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