Photo: Axel W. Eriksson / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mottled Swift
Tachymarptis aequatorialis
Mottled Swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) — Swifts of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mottled Swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 92.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Tachymarptis
- Species aequatorialis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 92.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mottled Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Mottled Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Mottled Swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 92.8 g, with a wing length of about 20.7 cm and a tail of around 9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mottled Swift?
The Mottled Swift is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 92.8 g.
Where does the Mottled Swift live?
The Mottled Swift is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mottled Swift belong to?
The Mottled Swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Mottled Swift eat?
The Mottled Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mottled Swift migrate?
The Mottled Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Mottled Swift endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Mottled Swift's range?
The Mottled Swift has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Apodidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Data Deficient
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
More in Swifts
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern