The pallid swift (Apus pallidus) is a swift (order Apodiformes). Swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The genus name Apus is Latin for a swift, thought by the ancients to be a type of swallow with no feet (from Ancient Greek α, a, "without", and πούς, pous, "foot"), and pallidus is Latin for "pale".[2] They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks. They drink on the wing.
The pallid swift was first described by English naturalist George Ernest Shelley in 1870.
DescriptionEdit
This 16–17 cm (6.3–6.7 in) long species is very similar to the common swift, and separation is only possible with good views. Like its relative, it has a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang.
It is entirely dark except for a large white throat patch which is frequently visible from a distance. It is chunkier and browner than common swift, and the slightly paler flight feathers, underparts and rump give more contrast than that species. It also has a scalier looking belly and subtly different flight action. The call is a loud dry scream similar to that of its relative, though possibly more disyllabic.
They are rare north of their breeding areas, although they are likely to be under-recorded due to identification problems. Because of its more southerly range, pallid swift arrives earlier and leaves later than the closely related common swift, so particularly early or late swifts north of the normal range should be carefully observed.
MigrationEdit
Like swallows, they are migratory, wintering in southern Africa or southeast Asia.
Pallid swifts that breed in Gibraltar have been tracked using GPS technology, and has shown them to have multiple African wintering grounds south of the Sahara at specific times of the year. One bird, tracked over two consecutive winters, showed remarkable fidelity to the areas visited in Africa between years. The study also supports previous findings of an airborne existence in swifts outside the breeding season, with two pallid swifts giving no indication of coming to land.[3]
ReferencesEdit
^BirdLife International (2019). "Apus pallidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22686815A155463151. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22686815A155463151.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.|date= / |doi= mismatch
^Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 52, 289. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Finlayson, Stewart; Holmes, Tyson Lee; Finlayson, Geraldine; Guillem, Rhian; Perez, Charles; Bensusan, Keith; Finlayson, Clive (30 November 2021). "Birds with multiple homes. The annual cycle of the pallid swift (Apus pallidus brehmorum)". PLOS One. 16 (11: e0259656): e0259656. Bibcode:2021PLoSO..1659656F. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0259656. PMC8631615. PMID 34847150.
External linksEdit
Media related to Apus pallidus at Wikimedia Commons
Flicker Field Guide Birds of the World Photographs
August 30, 2023
pallid, swift, pallid, swift, apus, pallidus, swift, order, apodiformes, swifts, have, very, short, legs, which, they, only, clinging, vertical, surfaces, genus, name, apus, latin, swift, thought, ancients, type, swallow, with, feet, from, ancient, greek, with. The pallid swift Apus pallidus is a swift order Apodiformes Swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces The genus name Apus is Latin for a swift thought by the ancients to be a type of swallow with no feet from Ancient Greek a a without and poys pous foot and pallidus is Latin for pale 2 They never settle voluntarily on the ground Swifts spend most of their lives in the air living on the insects they catch in their beaks They drink on the wing Pallid swiftFlying in GreeceConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesClade StrisoresOrder ApodiformesFamily ApodidaeGenus ApusSpecies A pallidusBinomial nameApus pallidus Shelley 1870 Eggs of Apus pallidus Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 3 1 Migration 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy EditThe pallid swift was first described by English naturalist George Ernest Shelley in 1870 Description EditThis 16 17 cm 6 3 6 7 in long species is very similar to the common swift and separation is only possible with good views Like its relative it has a short forked tail and very long swept back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang It is entirely dark except for a large white throat patch which is frequently visible from a distance It is chunkier and browner than common swift and the slightly paler flight feathers underparts and rump give more contrast than that species It also has a scalier looking belly and subtly different flight action The call is a loud dry scream similar to that of its relative though possibly more disyllabic Distribution and habitat EditPallid swifts breed on cliffs and eaves around the Mediterranean and on the Canary Islands and Madeira laying two eggs They are rare north of their breeding areas although they are likely to be under recorded due to identification problems Because of its more southerly range pallid swift arrives earlier and leaves later than the closely related common swift so particularly early or late swifts north of the normal range should be carefully observed Migration Edit Like swallows they are migratory wintering in southern Africa or southeast Asia Pallid swifts that breed in Gibraltar have been tracked using GPS technology and has shown them to have multiple African wintering grounds south of the Sahara at specific times of the year One bird tracked over two consecutive winters showed remarkable fidelity to the areas visited in Africa between years The study also supports previous findings of an airborne existence in swifts outside the breeding season with two pallid swifts giving no indication of coming to land 3 References Edit BirdLife International 2019 Apus pallidus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019 e T22686815A155463151 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22686815A155463151 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 date doi mismatch Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm pp 52 289 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Finlayson Stewart Holmes Tyson Lee Finlayson Geraldine Guillem Rhian Perez Charles Bensusan Keith Finlayson Clive 30 November 2021 Birds with multiple homes The annual cycle of the pallid swift Apus pallidus brehmorum PLOS One 16 11 e0259656 e0259656 Bibcode 2021PLoSO 1659656F doi 10 1371 journal pone 0259656 PMC 8631615 PMID 34847150 External links Edit Media related to Apus pallidus at Wikimedia Commons Flicker Field Guide Birds of the World Photographs Ageing and sexing PDF 2 6 MB by Javier Blasco Zumeta amp Gerd Michael Heinze Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pallid swift amp oldid 1169865170, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
