Pallid Swift Bird Facts (Apus pallidus)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Pallid Swift is a sleek, streamlined bird with long, curved wings and a forked tail.

Its plumage is predominantly greyish-brown, lighter than its close relative, the Common Swift. The throat is noticeably paler, often appearing white, which contrasts with the darker body.

Both sexes look alike, with juveniles showing faint pale edges to their feathers. The Pallid Swift does not undergo significant seasonal plumage changes, unlike some swifts.

Size

Length

16cm to 17cm

Wingspan

39cm to 44cm

Weight

30g to 50g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Pallid Swift can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Pallid Swift can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Pallid Swift can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Pallid Swift is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Pallid Swifts inhabit a range spanning from Southern Europe and North Africa to Central Asia. They prefer warm, dry climates, often found in coastal areas, mountains, and urban environments. These birds nest on cliffs, in caves, and increasingly on buildings in towns and cities.

During the breeding season, they are common in Mediterranean countries and also breed on the Atlantic islands of the Canaries and Madeira. Additionally, they have breeding grounds in Gibraltar, north Africa, Israel, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.

They are rare visitors in the UK, occasionally spotted along the south coast during migration periods.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,700 meters

Climate zones

Mediterranean, Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Pallid Swift. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Bahrain Burkina Faso Cameroon Chad Djibouti Egypt Gambia Ghana Greece Guinea-Bissau Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Mali Mauritania Morocco Niger Nigeria Oman Pakistan Palestine Saudi Arabia Sierra Leone Sudan Syria Togo Tunisia United Arab Emirates

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Albania Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus France Gibraltar Italy Macedonia Malta Monaco Montenegro Portugal Serbia Slovenia Spain Switzerland Turkey Western Sahara

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Central African Republic Côte D'Ivoire Guinea Liberia

Species that pass through the area during migration

Qatar South Sudan Yemen

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Bosnia and Herzegovina Congo Denmark Hungary Maldives Norway Senegal South Africa Sweden The United Kingdom Uganda Zambia

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Pallid Swift exhibits exceptional agility, spending most of its life on the wing. Its ability to feed, drink, and even sleep whilst flying demonstrates remarkable aerial prowess and manoeuvrability.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong compared to larger birds, the Pallid Swift possesses sufficient strength for its size to maintain prolonged flight and perform aerial acrobatics. Its ability to carry nesting materials also indicates moderate strength.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Pallid Swifts show high adaptability, thriving in various habitats from sea level to 2,700 metres. Their successful colonisation of urban environments and ability to use buildings for nesting demonstrates significant adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

These birds are not notably aggressive. They are social creatures, often seen in large flocks. However, they may display some territorial behaviour around nesting sites, warranting a moderate aggression rating.

Endurance 98

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Pallid Swifts demonstrate extraordinary endurance, capable of flying continuously for up to ten months without landing. This remarkable feat, coupled with their long-distance migration habits, justifies an exceptionally high endurance rating.

Diet

Pallid Swifts are insectivores, feeding exclusively on flying insects and airborne spiders caught on the wing.

They forage at various heights, from near ground level to high altitudes, depending on weather conditions and insect availability. Their diet includes flies, aphids, small beetles, flying ants, and even drifting spiders.

They also drink on the wing, and the sight of them swooping down to the surface of a lake or reservoir and dipping their bills to scoop up water is commonplace.

Behaviour

Pallid Swifts are highly aerial birds, spending most of their lives on the wing. They feed, drink, and even sleep while flying, only landing to nest.

These birds are social, often seen in large, screaming flocks, especially during migration and in the evening when they gather to roost.

Vocalisation

The Pallid Swift's call is a high-pitched, piercing scream, often described as 'sree-sree' or 'skree-skree'. These calls are frequently heard in groups, creating a distinctive chorus, especially during their evening flights.

Their vocalisations are slightly lower-pitched and less harsh than those of the Common Swift.

Nesting & Breeding

Pallid Swifts typically breed between May and August. They form monogamous pairs and often return to the same nesting sites year after year. These birds nest in small colonies, using crevices in cliffs or buildings.

The nest is a small cup made of feathers, plant material, and saliva. Females lay 2-3 white eggs, which both parents incubate for about 20 days.

Chicks fledge after 42-56 days but may return to the nest to roost for several days after their first flight. Parents continue to feed fledglings in flight for a short period.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While the Pallid Swift is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, it faces challenges from habitat loss and climate change. Urban development can reduce nesting sites, but some populations have adapted to use buildings.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding sites and monitoring population trends.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

800,000 - 1,499,999 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Pallid Swifts in urban areas, especially around tall buildings or cliffs
Observe their flight pattern: more buoyant and slower than Common Swifts
Listen for their distinctive screaming calls, especially in groups
In the UK, check coastal areas during late spring and early autumn for migrating individuals
It is unlikely to find a pallid swift on the ground as, with all swifts, the legs are unable to support the bird’s body weight sufficiently to walk, and life is spent predominantly in the air

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Pale Swift

Family:

Apodidae

Average Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Predators

Pallid Swifts face predation mainly from aerial hunters such as falcons and hawks. Ground-based predators like cats may occasionally catch low-flying or grounded individuals.

Did You Know?

Pallid Swifts can fly continuously for up to ten months without landing.
They drink and bathe on the wing by skimming water surfaces.
These birds have the ability to enter a state of torpor to conserve energy during cold spells.
The bird’s tiny feet are used to cling to rough surfaces as they negotiate passage to their nests, but they cannot perch on branches or overhead cables.