Common Swift

Apus apus

Explore this bird

Identification

16 cm (6") Accidental. Strays to Aleutians (Pribilofs) from Eurasia.

All black except for white throat. Deeply forked tail. Told from the Fork-tailed Swift, another stray from Asia, by its lack of a white-rump patch.

Details in the field

1 photo

Credit: Nuchaxo

Watch and learn

1 video

Common Swift numbers declining 'due to property repairs'

Credit: BirdLife International

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Swallow-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:286-common-swift:1:1 Source: 286 Common Swift, row 1