African Palm Swift
Encyclopedia
The African Palm Swift is a small swift. It is very similar to the Asian Palm Swift
, Cypsiurus balasiensis, and was formerly considered to be the same species.
It is a common resident breeder in tropical Africa
. The down and feather nest is glued to the underside of a palm leaf with saliva, which is also used to secure the usually two eggs. This is a fast flying bird of open country, which is strongly associated with Oil Palm
s.
This 16cm long species is mainly pale brown in colour. It has long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang
. The body is slender, and the tail is long and deeply forked, although it is usually held closed. The call is a loud, shrill scream.
Sexes are similar, and young birds differ mainly in their shorter tails. Palm Swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces, since swifts never settle voluntarily on the ground.
These swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks. Palm Swifts often feed near the ground. They drink on the wing.
Asian Palm Swift
The Asian Palm Swift is a small swift. It is very similar to the African Palm Swift, Cypsiurus parvus, and was formerly considered to be the same species....
, Cypsiurus balasiensis, and was formerly considered to be the same species.
It is a common resident breeder in tropical Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The down and feather nest is glued to the underside of a palm leaf with saliva, which is also used to secure the usually two eggs. This is a fast flying bird of open country, which is strongly associated with Oil Palm
Oil palm
The oil palms comprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is native to West Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia, while the American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is native to...
s.
This 16cm long species is mainly pale brown in colour. It has long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang
Boomerang
A boomerang is a flying tool with a curved shape used as a weapon or for sport.-Description:A boomerang is usually thought of as a wooden device, although historically boomerang-like devices have also been made from bones. Modern boomerangs used for sport are often made from carbon fibre-reinforced...
. The body is slender, and the tail is long and deeply forked, although it is usually held closed. The call is a loud, shrill scream.
Sexes are similar, and young birds differ mainly in their shorter tails. Palm Swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces, since swifts never settle voluntarily on the ground.
These swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks. Palm Swifts often feed near the ground. They drink on the wing.