Photo: Hobbyfotowiki / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plain Swift
Apus unicolor
Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) — Swifts of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 22.5 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 unicolor
Where it lives
Madeira (all islands) and Canary Is. (all islands; north-central to central Macaronesia, northwest of northern Africa); may breed adjacent Moroccan coast
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.5 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 Plain Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Plain Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Madeira (all islands) and Canary Is. (all islands; nc to c Macaronesia, nw of n Africa); may breed adjacent Moroccan coast.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.5 g, with a wing length of about 15 cm and a tail of around 7 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 8,284 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plain Swift?
The Plain Swift is a small bird that weighs around 22.5 g.
Where does the Plain Swift live?
The Plain Swift is found across Africa with a range covering AF Madeira (all islands) and Canary Is. (all islands; nc to c Macaronesia, nw of n Africa); may breed adjacent Moroccan coast, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Plain Swift belong to?
The Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Plain Swift eat?
The Plain Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Plain Swift migrate?
The Plain Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Plain 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 Plain Swift make?
1 real field recording of the Plain Swift — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Plain Swift's range?
The Plain Swift has a mapped global range of about 8,284 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
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
More in Swifts
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern