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Caprimulgiformes
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Apodidae
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Cape Verde Swift Apus alexandri Scientific name definitions

Philip Chantler and Peter F. D. Boesman
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated July 10, 2014

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

13 cm. Small, short-winged swift with relatively shallow tail-fork and ­distinctive fluttering flight; darkest black-brown on outer wing, wing-coverts, tail and mantle, with paler brown forehead and rump, the latter producing a prominent saddle; ­underparts paler still with broad, diffuse, off-white throat-patch; rest of underparts darker away from throat, pale brown lightly barred darker.

Systematics History

Recent molecular phylogeny (1) placed this species in a clade with A. niansae, A. bradfieldi, A. barbatus, A. berliozi, A. unicolor, A. pallidus and A. apus. Formerly considered conspecific with A. unicolor; recently suggested as being more closely related to A. niansae, A. barbatus or A. pallidus, although these proposals appear to be based mainly on speculation. Only known eggs, described in 1898, were considered unique among Apodiformes in being speckled reddish-brown; a much later clutch reported in 1986, however, consisted of pure white eggs (like those of other Apodiformes), suggesting that first set was probably misidentified; implications drawn from first eggs have greatly confused the matter of relationships. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Cape Verde Is: occurs throughout (except Santa Luzia), including small islet of Raso, but thought to breed only on Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Santo Antão and São Nicolau.

Habitat

Occurs over all habitats on small island range, foraging from sea-level up to peaks of highest mountains, e.g. 2830 m on Fogo. Breeds up to 1600 m.

Movement

Resident, though foraging birds, or non-breeders, occur on E islands and São Vicente. Occasional absence noted from some islands, e.g. São Vicente and Santo Antão in Jan–Feb 1966.

Diet and Foraging

Forages alone or in parties of up to 30.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Most common call similar to scream of A. apus, but higher-pitched, less piercing and harsher, with a somewhat reeling quality (2).

Breeding

Noted visiting nest-sites Aug–Sept; eggs collected early Apr and mid-Nov; breeding suspected Jan–Mar, early Jun and Aug–Sept on Santiago, Feb on São Nicolau and Aug–Sept on Brava. Nests in cliff fissures and in houses. 2 eggs, plain white.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Cape Verde Islands EBA. Common, with largest numbers on Fogo and Brava. Population not accurately censused, but certainly numbers in the thousands. Early records indicate abundance on São Nicolau.
Distribution of the Cape Verde Swift - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Cape Verde Swift

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Chantler, P. and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Cape Verde Swift (Apus alexandri), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.aleswi1.01
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