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14

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

Europe: Family Group 14 Family Group 14 Table Common Kingfisher European Bee-eater European Roller Common Swift Pallid Swift Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Pallid Swifts are relatively large swifts. Their plumage is all dark-grey, except a large light-grey throat patch. The entire body plumage has thin mid-grey edges, leading to a finely vermiculated appearance when seen close-up. Swifts, as the name suggests, are fast fliers; accordingly, their wings have the shape of a backward-bent sickle, which - together with the relatively short, prominently forked tail - distinguishes them from swallows. In-flight the very short legs are invisible.

Taxonomy, classification See Pallid Swift at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the ebird.org website. The global distribution of the Pallid Swift is available HERE . Pallid Swifts are a strongly migratory species; except when breeding they are continuously on the wing, for up to 10 months per year. Their total range extends from islands off North-west Africa in the West to southern Iran and Oman in the East. Their breeding grounds are mostly around the Mediterranean, in Asia Minor, the Middle East and Arabia. Some are found as far to the North as the British Isles, Denmark and southern Sweden. They overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa. Only along the lower river Nile and in two more areas along the North coast of Africa there are sedentary populations. In Europe Pallid Swifts occur as summer breeding migrants only in near-coastal areas of the northern Mediterranean Sea, ranging from the southern half of Portugal in the West to eastern Greece in the East, including the Mediterranean islands. During the breeding season Pallid Swifts will be found near suitable nest sites (rockfaces, ruins, houses, bridges, viaducts), in the vicinity of good hunting grounds (e.g. near water). Outside the breeding season their movements will be dominated by the availability of flying insects, which are often abundant in wetlands, especially stagnant water or in marshy river deltas.

Sightings Click here for sighting information J. Pires reports finding Pallid Swifts regularly in the area of Mora, Evora, Portugal. All sighting and photographic information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Distant near-frontal view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Nova Milfontes, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight; note the large light-grey throat patch- the bird is probably calling, inflating the voice box, which makes the throat patch looks distended like a full crop (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Nova Milfontes, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]

Ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Ventral view of a Pallid Swift in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

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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