African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus balasiensis

The African Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis) is a small, highly aerial bird found in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is known for its distinctive swift and agile flight, often seen in flocks gliding and wheeling over palm plantations and savannahs. This species has a short, forked tail and a slender body, with a predominantly gray-brown plumage. African Palm Swifts feed on insects caught in flight and are often associated with oil palm plantations and other open habitats with scattered trees. They are highly social birds, nesting in colonies and using their saliva to construct their nests on vertical surfaces. The conservation status of the African Palm Swift is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Habitat: Palm plantations, savannahs

African Palm Swift