Little Swift

Apus affinis

Introduction

A small swift with noticeable white rump and throat patches, this is a rare visitor from North Africa, with records peaking in May.

While most of the records have come from southern Britain, individuals have been recorded north to Shetland.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

25g

Seasonality

BTO Records

213 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Cornwall, 1981 (Cork, 1967)

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Little Swift movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Little Swift, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Little Swift

Classification and Codes

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Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae
Scientific name: Apus affinis
Authority: JE Gray, 1830

BTO 5-letter code: LITSW
Euring code number: 8000

Alternate species names

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Catalan: falciot cuablanc comú
Czech: rorýs domovní
Danish: Lille Sejler
Dutch: Huisgierzwaluw
Estonian: väikepiiritaja e. väike-piirpääsuke
Finnish: pikkukiitäjä
French: Martinet des maisons

German: Haussegler
Hungarian: kis sarlósfecske
Icelandic: Skíðsvölungur
Irish: Gabhlán Beag
Italian: Rondone indiano
Latvian: maza svire
Lithuanian: mažasis ciurlys
Norwegian: Småseiler

Polish: jerzyk maly
Portuguese: andorinhão-pequeno
Slovak: dáždovník malý
Slovenian: mali hudournik
Spanish: Vencejo moro
Swedish: stubbstjärtseglare
Welsh: Gwennol Ddu Fach

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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