Apus acuticauda
The Dark-rumped Swift (Apus acuticauda) is a striking, medium-sized aerial master, measuring approximately 20-23 cm (8-9 inches) in length with a wingspan that can approach 45-50 cm. Its plumage is uniformly sooty black or dark brownish, distinguishing feature from similar swifts, particularly its dark rump which contrasts with the white rump found in many other Apus species. A subtle, pale or whitish throat patch can sometimes be observed, but it is often inconspicuous. Its long, deeply fork...
Found primarily in steep mountainous regions, deep valleys, and montane forests, often near cliff faces and limestone karst formations, typically at elevations between 800 and 3,000 meters.
Exclusively insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of airborne insects and spiders, which they catch adeptly on the wing.
Dark-rumped Swifts are highly aerial birds, spending nearly their entire lives in flight, only landing to nest. They exhibit crepuscular and diurnal activity, foraging actively throughout the day, often in small, loose flocks or mixed-species swift aggregations. Roosting occurs communally in inac...
The Dark-rumped Swift has a somewhat restricted and fragmented distribution across the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Its primary breeding range extends through northeastern India (especially Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland), Bhutan, and Nepal, where it inhabits high-altitude montane forests and steep...
Vulnerable
- The Dark-rumped Swift is one of the most enigmatic swifts, with much of its life history still poorly understood by science due to its remote habitat and constant aerial existence. - Unlike many swift species that have white rumps, its completely dark rump is the defining feature, leading to it...