Apus niansae
The Nyanza Swift (*Apus niansae*) is a medium-sized, highly aerial bird of the family Apodidae, typically measuring 15-16 cm in length with a wingspan of approximately 38-40 cm. Its plumage is a sooty grey-brown overall, with distinctly paler grey-brown underparts, particularly on the belly and vent, and a prominent, often whitish or pale grey throat patch that contrasts with its darker cheeks. The tail is forked, though it frequently appears pointed when held closed in flight, complemented b...
Primarily found in rocky cliffs, gorges, and mountainous escarpments within open or semi-arid country, often at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters. Also utilizes artificial structures like bridges and buildings for nesting in human-modified landscapes.
Exclusively an aerial insectivore, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects including ants, beetles, flies, and termites, all caught deftly on the wing.
The Nyanza Swift is a profoundly aerial and diurnal species, spending the vast majority of its day in continuous, energetic flight, where it forages, socializes, and even sleeps. As an expert aerial insectivore, it efficiently captures flying prey mid-air with its wide-gaped mouth. These swifts a...
The Nyanza Swift is an endemic resident of Sub-Saharan Africa, exhibiting a rather disjunct distribution across its extensive range. Its primary breeding and residential areas span from the highlands of Ethiopia and southern Sudan, extending southwards through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo...
Least Concern
- The Nyanza Swift can spend months without landing, a testament to its extreme aerial adaptation. - It is one of the swift species believed to be capable of sleeping, mating, and even collecting nest material while in flight. - Its nests are not built from twigs or mud, but from airborne debris ...