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Little Swift

Apus affinis (Gray, JE 1830)

The little swift, is a small species of swift found in Africa and southwestern Asia, and are vagrants and local breeders in southern Europe. They are found both in urban areas and at rocky cliffs where they build nests in a way typical of all members of the order Apodiformes. The genus name Apus is Latin for a swift, thought by the ancients to be a type of swallow without feet. The Latin specific affinis means similar to or related to, but in this case the species that the little swift supposedly resembles is not clear from the description. A population formerly considered to be an eastern subspecies of little swift is now separated as a distinct species, the house swift. Source: Wikipedia




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Classification
Order:
  Apodiformes
Family:
  Apodidae
Genus:
   Apus
Scientific:
  Apus affinis

Original description

Citation:
  (Gray, JE 1830)

Reference:
   Ill. Indian Zool. Hardwicke 1 pt2 pl.35 fig.2

Protonym:
  Cypselus affinis

Type locality:
  No locality - Ganges.

Link:
  https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45959696

Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
  D209A90C8A90DA51

Avibase ID:
  avibase-D209A90C

Short link:
  https://avibase.ca/D209A90C

Taxonomic Serial Number:
  TSN: 555014

Geographic range:

  • Apus affinis affinis: southern Somalia to northern Mozambique, Pemba Island, and Zanzibar, to India
  • Apus affinis aerobates: southwestern Mauritania to Ethiopia, Somalia, central Angola, and South Africa
  • Apus affinis galilejensis: northern and sub-Saharan Africa and eastward to Pakistan
  • Apus affinis theresae: western and southern Angola to southern Zambia and South Africa
  • Apus affinis bannermani: Bioko, São Tomé, and Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea)
  • Apus affinis singalensis: southern India and Sri Lanka
  • Show more...
Source: Clements checklist
English:
Little Swift
Catalan:
Falciot cuablanc comú
Czech:
rorýs domovní
Danish:
Lille Sejler
German:
Haussegler
Spanish:
Vencejo Moro
Spanish (Spain):
Vencejo Moro
Finnish:
pikkukiitäjä
French:
Martinet des maisons
Croatian:
Mala čiopa
Hungarian:
Kis sarlósfecske
Icelandic:
Skíðsvölungur
Italian:
Rondone indiano
Japanese (romaji):
nishihimeamatsubame
Japanese:
ニシヒメアマツバメ
Lithuanian:
Mažasis čiurlys
Dutch:
Huisgierzwaluw
Norwegian Nynorsk:
Småseglar
Norwegian:
Småseiler
Polish:
jerzyk mały
Portuguese:
Andorinhão-pequeno
Portuguese (Portugal):
Andorinhão-pequeno
Russian:
Малый стриж
Slovak:
dážďovník malý
Serbian:
Mala čiopa
Swedish:
stubbstjärtseglare
Ukrainian:
Серпокрилець малий
Chinese:
小雨燕
Chinese (Traditional):
歐洲小雨燕

Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

African Bird Club Checklist 2004:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
African Bird Club Checklist August 2005:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
African Bird Club Checklist March 2007:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
African Bird Club Checklist January 2008:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
African Bird Club Checklist May 2009:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
African Bird Club Checklist March 2010:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 00:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 01:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 02:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 03:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 04:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 05 (Jun 2012):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 05.1 (Oct 2012):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 06 (Nov 2013):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 06.1 (Feb 2014):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
British Ornithologists' Union Checklist (7th edition):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
British Ornithologists' Union Checklist (7th edition, incl. Jan 2009 suppl.):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis)
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993, révision 2009):
Martinet des maisons ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993):
Martinet des maisons ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2021:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2022:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2023:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 4th edition:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (as published):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2015:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2016:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2017:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2018:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Clements, version 2019:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 1.50:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 1.52:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 1.53:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 1.54:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 1.55:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2015:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2016:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2017:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2018:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2019:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2021:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2022:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
eBird version 2023:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Oriental Bird Club:
House Swift ( Apus affinis)
Sibley and Monroe (1993):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.01:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.02:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.03:
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.04 (7/07/2024):
Little Swift ( Apus affinis) [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Apus affinis [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Apus affinis [version 1]

Taxonomic status:

Species status: full species (sometimes nominal subspecies)

This taxon is considered a subspecies of Apus [affinis or nipalensis] (sensu lato) by some authors

Your sightings

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Related taxa

Highlight taxa in a checklist (shown in red)

Other related concepts

Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.


Afrikaans: Kleinwindswael
Arabic: السمامة الصغيرة, سمامة صغيرة
Asturian: Andarón pequeño
Azerbaijani: Kiçik uzunqanad, Kiçik uzunqnad
Belarusian: Малы свіргуль
Bulgarian: Малък бързолет
Bengali: ঘয ফাতাচ঳ , ঘর বাতাসি
Bengali (transliteration): ghara bātāsi
Breton: Glaouer pastellek
Catalan: Falciot cuablanc comú, Falciot culblanc comú
Montenegrin: mala pištarka, мала пиштарка
Montenegrin (Cyrillic): мала пиштарка
Czech: Rorýs domovní
Welsh: Coblyn ddu fach, Gwennol ddu fach
Danish: Lille sejler
German: Haussegler, Malaiensegler, Stubbstjärtsegler, Weissbürzelsegler
Greek: Μικρoσταχτάρα, Μικροσταχτάρα, Νανοπετροχελίδονο
Greek (Cypriot): Νανοπετροχελίδονο
English: House Swift, Little African Swift, Little Swift, Small Swift, White-rumped Swift
English, HBW: Little Swift
English (India): Little Swift (Indian House Swift)
English (IOC): Little Swift
English (Kenya): Little Swift
English (United States): Little Swift
Esperanto: blankpuga apuso
Spanish: Vencejo Culiblanco, Vencejo Moro
Spanish (Spain): Vencejo Moro
Spanish (HBW): Vencejo moro
Estonian: väikepiiritaja, väikepiiritaja (väike-piirpääsuke), väikepiiritaja e. väike-piirpääsuke, väike-piirpääsuke
Basque: Falciot culblanc comú, Sorbeltz txiki, Sorbeltz txikia
Persian: بادخورک کوچک
Finnish: Pikkukiitäjä, Pikkukirskuja
French: Martinet à croupion blanc, Martinet à dos blanc, Martinet cul-blanc, Martinet des maisons
Friulian: sbîr piçul
Frisian: Lytse toerswel
Irish: Gabhlán Beag, Gabhlán gaoithe beag
Galician: Cirrio pequeno, Falciot culblanc comú
Manx: Gollan beg
Hebrew: סיס גליל, סיס הגליל
Hindi: Babeela
Croatian: Čiopa pokućarka, Mala čiopa
Hungarian: Kis sarlósfecske
Indonesian: Kapinis rumah
Icelandic: Skíðsvölungur
Italian: Rondone indiano, Rondone minore
Japanese (romaji): himeamatsubame, nishihimeamatsubame
Japanese: ニシヒメアマツバメ, ヒメアマツバメ
Georgian: მცირე ნამგალა
Kara-Kalpak: киши узын қанат
Korean: 쇠칼새
Kwangali: Sisampamema
Scientific: Apus affinis, Apus affinis affinis, Cypselus affinis
Lithuanian: Mažasis čiurlys
Latvian: mazā svīre
Macedonian: Мала пиштарка
Malayalam: അമ്പലം  ചുറ്റി , അമ്പലംചുറ്റി
Marathi: घर पाकोळी
Maltese: Rundun Zghir, Rundun Żgħir
Dutch: Huisgierzwaluw
Norwegian Nynorsk: Småseglar
Norwegian: Husseiler, Småseiler
Polish: Jerzyk alpejski, jerzyk maly, jerzyk mały
Portuguese: Andorinhão pequeno, Andorinhão-pequeno
Portuguese (Portugal): Andorinhão-pequeno
Rhaeto-Romance: Randurel pitschen
Romanian: Drepnea cu târtiţă albă
Russian: Maly Strizh, Малый стриж, Стриж малый
Northern Sami: Uhcaleahttospálfu
Sinhalese (Transliteration): Punchi Thurithaya
Slovak: dážďovník bielotrtáčov, dážďovník bielotrtáčový, dážďovník malý
Slovenian: mali hudournik
Albanian: Dejka e vogël
Serbian: Mala čiopa
Sotho, Southern: Lehaqasi
Swedish: Stubbstjärtseglare
Swahili: Teleka Mdogo
Tajik: досаки майда, досаки хурд
Thai: นกแอ่นบ้าน
Turkmen: kiçi atgarlawaç
Tswana: Pêolwane
Turkish: Küçük Ebabil, Küçük Sağan, Küçük Saşan
Tsonga: Nkonjana
Tuvinian: бичии сыйтылаа
Udmurt: пичи пӧськы
Ukrainian: Серпокрилець малий
Uzbek: кичик узунқанот
Vietnamese: Yến cằm trắng
Kalmyk: баһ темән харада
Chinese: 小白腰雨燕, 小雨燕
Chinese (Traditional): 歐洲小雨燕

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