Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very 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). 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). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population size has not been quantified, but the species is regarded as common across most of its range (Mills et al. 2019).
Trend justification
The population trend has not been quantified. The species is associated with cultivated palms and secondary vegetation, and is therefore suspected to be stable (Mills et al. 2019).
The species is widespread and common in Madagascar and the Comoros (Safford 2013).
The species typically inhabits open secondary vegetation in lowland areas. It is associated with palms, which are used as nesting sites. The species is insectivorous (Safford 2013).
Text account compilers
Smith, D., Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Malagasy Palm Swift Cypsiurus gracilis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/malagasy-palm-swift-cypsiurus-gracilis on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.