Apus unicolor
The Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) is a striking, uniformly dark avian species belonging to the family Apodidae, renowned for its almost entirely aerial existence. Measuring 14-15 cm in length with a wingspan of 35-39 cm, it presents a slender, streamlined silhouette with long, scythe-like wings and a short, forked tail. Its most distinctive field mark is its overall sooty-brown plumage, lacking the prominent pale throat patch or contrasting belly found in many other *Apus* swifts, making it app...
Found primarily in coastal and mountainous areas, nesting in cliffs, rocky outcrops, and sometimes in urban structures. Occurs from sea level up to 2,000 meters in elevation, typically near open country for foraging.
Exclusively insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of aerial invertebrates such as flying ants, beetles, flies, and aphids, caught on the wing.
Plain Swifts are highly diurnal, spending virtually their entire day, and much of their lives, on the wing. They are expert aerial insectivores, foraging in large, dynamic flocks that sweep through the air with rapid wing beats and graceful glides. Roosting occurs communally in their nesting crev...
The Plain Swift is primarily resident across the Macaronesian biogeographical region. Its core breeding range encompasses the Canary Islands, Madeira (including Porto Santo and Desertas Islands), and the Cape Verde islands. A small, disjunct breeding population also exists in coastal Morocco, par...
Least Concern
- The Plain Swift is one of the birds that can truly be said to live 'on the wing,' often spending over 90% of its life airborne, including sleeping and mating. - Nestlings can enter a state of torpor (reduced metabolic activity) to survive periods of food scarcity caused by prolonged bad weather...