Swifts of India

16 swifts have been recorded in India on eBird, the global citizen-science database run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and carry a full profile in the Birbs encyclopedia. Every bird below is a member of this group — the family Apodidae. Start with the well-known species, browse the complete list, then check which are being reported near you right now.

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Swifts of India to know first

• Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
• Asian Palm SwiftCypsiurus balasiensis
• Blyth’s SwiftApus leuconyx
• Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteus
• Common SwiftApus apus
• Dark-rumped SwiftApus acuticauda
• Edible-nest SwiftletAerodramus fuciphagus
• Himalayan SwiftletAerodramus brevirostris
• House SwiftApus nipalensis
• Little SwiftApus affinis
• Pacific SwiftApus pacificus
• Plume-toed SwiftletCollocalia affinis
• Silver-backed NeedletailHirundapus cochinchinensis
• White-rumped SpinetailZoonavena sylvatica
• White-throated NeedletailHirundapus caudacutus

The full list — 16 swifts of India in our library

• Alpine Swift
• Asian Palm Swift
• Blyth’s Swift
• Brown-backed Needletail
• Common Swift
• Dark-rumped Swift
• Edible-nest Swiftlet
• Himalayan Swiftlet
• House Swift
• Indian Swiftlet
• Little Swift
• Pacific Swift
• Plume-toed Swiftlet
• Silver-backed Needletail
• White-rumped Spinetail
• White-throated Needletail

Keep exploring

• Birds of India
• Old World Flycatchers & Chats of India (107 species)
• Hawks, Eagles & Kites of India (62 species)
• Laughingthrushes of India (58 species)
• Ducks, Geese & Swans of India (51 species)
• True Finches of India (51 species)
• Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of India (43 species)
• Sandpipers & Allies of India (42 species)
• Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of India (40 species)
• Owls of India (36 species)
• Pigeons & Doves of India (35 species)
• Thrushes of India (34 species)
• Woodpeckers of India (34 species)
• Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of India (27 species)
• Crows, Jays & Magpies of India (24 species)
• Cuckoos of India (24 species)
• Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of India (24 species)
• Bulbuls of India (23 species)
• Larks of India (23 species)
• Starlings & Mynas of India (22 species)
• Old World Buntings of India (21 species)
• Plovers of India (21 species)
• Wagtails & Pipits of India (21 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of India (20 species)

Swifts in other regions

• Swifts of Indonesia (22 species)
• Swifts of Brazil (19 species)

Species and counts come from the eBird network; "recorded" means reported by birders to eBird. Family grouping follows the IOC World Bird List. Tap any bird for its full profile.