Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bradfield’s Swift
Apus bradfieldi
Bradfield's Swift (Apus bradfieldi) — Swifts of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bradfield’s Swift (Apus bradfieldi) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 42.4 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 Apus
- Species bradfieldi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bradfield’s Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Bradfield’s Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Bradfield’s Swift (Apus bradfieldi) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42.4 g, with a wing length of about 17.6 cm and a tail of around 7.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 882,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bradfield’s Swift?
The Bradfield’s Swift is a small bird that weighs around 42.4 g.
Where does the Bradfield’s Swift live?
The Bradfield’s Swift is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Bradfield’s Swift belong to?
The Bradfield’s Swift (Apus bradfieldi) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Bradfield’s Swift eat?
The Bradfield’s Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Bradfield’s Swift migrate?
The Bradfield’s Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Bradfield’s 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.
What sound does the Bradfield’s Swift make?
1 real field recording of the Bradfield’s Swift — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bradfield’s Swift's range?
The Bradfield’s Swift has a mapped global range of about 882,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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