Data Zone
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
| Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| Year | Category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Least Concern | |
| 2016 | Least Concern | |
| 2013 | Least Concern | |
| 2012 | Least Concern | |
| 2009 | Least Concern | |
| 2008 | Least Concern | |
| 2004 | Least Concern | |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern | |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern | |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | medium |
| Land-mass type | Average mass | 43 g |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 15,200,000 km2 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) | 14,300,000 km2 | medium |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population size | unknown | - | - | - |
| Population trend | decreasing | - | inferred | - |
| Generation length | 12.5 years | - | - | - |
Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as locally abundant in South Africa and locally common in east Africa. Race mayottensis is common and race balstoni is common and widespread (del Hoyo et al. 1999).
Trend justification:
The species is tentatively assessed as being in decline due to habitat loss per Tracewski et al. (2016).
| Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | extant | native | yes | |||
| Botswana | extant | native | ||||
| Cameroon | extant | native | ||||
| Comoros | extant | native | ||||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | extant | native | ||||
| Eswatini | extant | native | ||||
| Ethiopia | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Kenya | extant | native | ||||
| Lesotho | extant | native | ||||
| Madagascar | extant | native | ||||
| Malawi | extant | native | ||||
| Mayotte (to France) | extant | native | ||||
| Mozambique | extant | native | ||||
| Rwanda | extant | native | ||||
| Sierra Leone | extant | native | ||||
| South Africa | extant | native | ||||
| Tanzania | extant | native | ||||
| Uganda | extant | native | ||||
| Zambia | extant | native | ||||
| Zimbabwe | extant | native |
| Country/Territory | IBA Name |
|---|
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane | major | non-breeding |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane | major | breeding |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude | suitable | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude | suitable | breeding |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | major | non-breeding | |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | major | breeding | |
| Altitude | 0 - 2400 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: African Swift Apus barbatus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/african-swift-apus-barbatus on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.