House Swift

Flies quickly with its long wings.

Scientific name	Apus nipalensis
English name	House Swift
Japanese name	姫雨燕
Class	Aves
Order	Apodiformes
Family	Apodidae
Genus	Apus
Species	nipalensis
Full length	13cm
Distribution	Low-latitude regions from Africa to Asia. In Japan, it is found in Kantō region and southward.

House Swift Characteristics and Morphology

A member of the swift family, generally blackish-brown overall. Characterized by long, sickle-shaped wings. Sexes are similar.
The head is generally black. The throat is white. The bill and iris are both black. Possesses long, sickle-shaped wings. The wingspan can reach about 30cm. The rump is white. The closed tail feathers have a shallowly concave shape.
Similar in wing shape to the Common Swift (Apus apus), but about two sizes smaller. The notch in the tail feathers is shallower than that of the Common Swift (which has a distinct V-shape). Found in urban areas and mountainous regions (Common Swift prefers coasts with cliffs).

Song

Sings with a "churiririri" or "juririri" sound while flying.

House Swift Ecology

Habitat

Inhabits urban areas, mountainous regions, and near rivers. Can be seen year-round in Honshu.

Food

Feeds on insects while flying.

Life Cycle

Builds nests under the eaves of buildings, bridge girders, and sometimes utilizes old nests of species such as the Asian House Martin.

House Swift Photos

House Swift Photos are introduced.
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House Swift Behavior

Forms flocks of several birds.

House Swift Information

Naming

The scientific name "nipalensis" means "of Nepal."

House Swift Found Locations

Riverbed of the Asakawa River, Hachiōji

Photographed flying over the riverbed of the Asakawa River in Hachiōji, Tokyo. About 4 or 5 birds were foraging, flying back and forth over several kilometers. It was difficult to photograph because they fly quite fast. They never came down to the ground.

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