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14

Pallid Swift

(Apus pallidus)
German name(s): "Fahlsegler"
Size: 16-18 cm; wing span 39-44 cm

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Pallid Swift at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Minho, Viana do Castelo, Costa Verde, Portugal, July 2020]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight illuminated by mellow evening sunlight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, June 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Varzea Redonda, Alandroal, Portugal, June 2019]

Lateral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Pallid Swift in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Pallid Swift in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Pair/flock

Frontal/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight; swifts have weak legs and spend most of their lives in the air - running repairs like a bit of preening are all done on the wing; the important thing is not to lose one's head... (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Pallid Swift in the process of catching an insect in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

palswft_jp_20200604.m4a (Portugal) Contact calls (in-flight) © JP

More Pallid Swift sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.