• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Taxonomic note
Molecular phylogeny (Päckert et al. 2012) 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.

Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2023. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 8. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v8_Dec23.zip.

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as common (del Hoyo et al. 1999). The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Cape Verde Swift Apus alexandri. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/cape-verde-swift-apus-alexandri 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.