Horus Swift Apus horus Scientific name definitions

15 cm; 26 g. Small, fork-tailed swift, black-brown with broad white rump-patch, white throat-patch . Differs from A. affinis in larger size, forked tail and relatively paler underwing-coverts; tail  broader, relatively shorter and less deeply forked than in A. caffer. Race fuscobrunneus has dark brown rump, smaller, greyer throat-patch, lacks distinct gloss to plumage and has relatively paler uppertail-coverts and head; “toulsoni” morph similar to this subspecies but generally darker; intermediates between “toulsoni” and typical nominate birds have been seen in Zimbabwe.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Correlates with that of the bee-eaters (Meropidae), kingfishers (Alcedinidae) and martins (Hirundinidae), among which it nests; consequently, often seen around sand banks, feeding over wide range of adjacent habitat. In Kenya, utilizes colonies of White-fronted Bee-eaters (Merops bullockoides) and has a similar range. Breeds at 1600–2000 m in C Kenya.

Populations breeding in South African and Zimbabwean high veld winter elsewhere, possibly in Zimbabwean low veld, though resident in some low-lying tropical parts of S Africa S to NE Transvaal. Similar movements, thought to be localized, perhaps altitudinal, occur in parts of E Africa, e.g. present at Mau Narok, Kenya, at 3000 m late Apr to early Jul; C Kenyan population as a whole present only Mar–Sept, with some records E of breeding range Oct–Dec. Believed to be dry-season visitor in Zambezi Valley. In Natal, makes altitudinal migration from 1500–2400 m to below 900 m.

Termites, flies, beetles and ants recorded. One food ball contained 204 insects: 78 jassid, 1 fulgorid and 5 heteropteran bugs, 5 Neuroptera, 95 Lepidoptera, 3 Diptera, 1 wasp, 1 beetle and 15 indeterminable. Another contained 12 spiders and 477 insects of 15 families: beetles, bugs, butterflies, flies and wasps, of which 77% Cicadellidae. In Kenya, a complete bolus of 363 prey items and a partial bolus of 33 comprised 79% termites (Termitidae), planthoppers (Cicadellidae and Delphacidae) and ants (Formicidae). Foraging level in mixed flocks typically between lower Cypsiurus parvus and higher A. caffer; this was apparent at Kariba, Zimbabwe, where fed in groups of 4–10 within same stratum, 20–30 m, as Mosque Swallow (Hirundo senegalensis). Occasionally feeds at highest level, 30–40 m, when this not already occupied. Forages in small flocks, up to 30, often with other swifts or hirundines.

Most common call is a reedy trilled ”prrreeeeoo” or “prrreee-piu”. Very different from A. affinis, and away from breeding grounds is less vocal than the latter. Around nest, also gives a repeated nasal, buzzy “drrrreeep” and “wi-wi-wi”.

Breeds Chad Nov–Feb, Sudan Mar–Jun; egg-laying Jun in Ethiopia, Apr–May in Malawi, Aug–Sept in Zambia, all year but mostly Nov–Feb in Zimbabwe, Jan–May in Transvaal, Nov–Dec and Mar–Apr in Cape; in Zimbabwe breeds in hot wet months Oct–Apr above 1000 m, and in cool months Apr–Sept below 1000 m. Nests solitarily; although not genuinely colonial, also in small groups typically of up to 12 pairs, sometimes many more, often scattered within colonies of bee-eaters (Meropidae) or sand martins (Riparia), grouped nesting therefore believed to result from utilizing nest-holes of colonial species. Apparent breeding behaviour noted from a cave in coastal sandstone cliffs, SW Cape. Uses deserted nests of burrowing species, namely bee-eaters, kingfishers (Alcedinidae), Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus), Banded Martin (Neophedina cincta) and probably Southern Anteater-chat (Myrmecocichla formicivora), typically in riverbanks; eviction not recorded, though may lose nest to African Pied Starlings (Spreo bicolor); 1 burrow was 45 cm long, with narrow entrance and terminal disc-shaped nesting cavern, 30 × 40 cm and 6 cm high. Nest is thin platform of vegetable matter agglutinated with saliva to hair, feathers, occasionally rags; windblown grass collected. Copulates at nest. Clutch 1–4, average 2 in Zimbabwe and 3 in South Africa; incubation c. 28 days; average feeding interval 54 minutes, mean weight of food pellets 1 g; fledging period c. 6 weeks.

Not globally threatened. Locally common in suitable habitat over much of range, and abundant in some C Ethiopian highland sites. Range has increased following colonization of buildings by hirundine hosts. One Kenyan colony at Nakuru numbered “several hundred” pairs in 1978. Recently recorded for first time from Niger.