Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the threshold for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years of three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
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).
Text account compilers
Palmer-Newton, A., Butchart, S., Hermes, C., Ekstrom, J.
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.