Common Swift

Apus apus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Apodidae — Swifts

Common Swift, Apus apus, breeds widely across the Palearctic and spends the non-breeding season in southern Africa. It is a bird of the order Apodiformes and the family Apodidae. The species is known for its very short legs, which are used mainly for gripping vertical surfaces. It does not choose to rest on the ground, where it would be exposed to danger. Individuals outside the breeding period may remain airborne for as long as ten months without a break.

Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae — Swifts
Breeding range: Palearctic: widespread
Nonbreeding range: s AF