Photo: markus lilje / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scarce Swift
Schoutedenapus myoptilus
Scarce Swift (Schoutedenapus myoptilus) — Swifts of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scarce Swift (Schoutedenapus myoptilus) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 23.5 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 Schoutedenapus
- Species myoptilus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scarce Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Scarce Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Scarce Swift (Schoutedenapus myoptilus) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, ec.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.5 g, with a wing length of about 13 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 385,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scarce Swift?
The Scarce Swift is a small bird that weighs around 23.5 g.
Where does the Scarce Swift live?
The Scarce Swift is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, ec, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Scarce Swift belong to?
The Scarce Swift (Schoutedenapus myoptilus) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Scarce Swift eat?
The Scarce Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Scarce Swift migrate?
The Scarce Swift is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Scarce 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 Scarce Swift make?
1 real field recording of the Scarce 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 Scarce Swift's range?
The Scarce Swift has a mapped global range of about 385,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Apodidae
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Swifts
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern