Species:

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)

Senegal Thick-knee (Burhinus senegalensis)

Change species:
Main Images:
Prev species:
Length (cm):
16-17
32-38
Wingspan (cm):
42-46
75-80
Weight (gram):
41-41
0-0
Size group:
Thrush-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Very similar to Common Swift, and often difficult to identify in the field. Seeing the birds against a darker background, as opposed to the sky, brings out some of the characters more clearly. Generally paler and more sandy brown than Common Swift. Differs further from C. Swift by: Rounder wing tip (outermost primary shorter than the next), slightly broader wings, broader and flatter head. White throat patch bigger and more prominent. The face seems paler, which brings out the dark eye-mask. Back slightly darker than upper part of wings. More contrast between outer and inner primaries. Underparts with more pronounced scaly pattern. Flight less acrobatic, with slightly slower wing-beats, more frequent gliding and much less twinkling turns.

Sound:

Similar to Common Swift, but usually very helpful for ID. Almost di-syllabic, with marked accent on second syllable which rapidly drops in pitch, "srrrree-aah". Common swift has a more even call, with accents on first part, without the sudden pitch-drop.

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

Sound recording:Creative Commons,www.xeno-canto.org,Carlos W.,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Appearance:

This species is UNPUBLISHED. Description is not yet completed. Species on the WP-syllabus have priority.

Sound:


Distribution:

Ecology:

Links:

CC

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Swallow-like
Silhouette
Waders
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species