Alexander's SwiftApus alexandriWhere and when to see them

Alexander’s swift is a small, dark aerial insectivore endemic to Cape Verde. It spends much of its visible life sweeping through the sky above rugged volcanic terrain, settlements and feeding areas. Also called the Cape Verde swift, it is among the archipelago’s distinctive resident birds. Its restricted geographic range makes local habitat conditions important, even though it can cover considerable distances in flight while searching for concentrations of airborne insects.

Size

13 cm long

Weight

Not reliably established

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

These swifts forage on the wing, often gathering in loose groups where insects concentrate. Rapid wingbeats alternate with glides as birds circle cliffs or pass over valleys and towns. They nest in sheltered cavities and rock crevices rather than constructing exposed nests on branches. Adults return to these protected spaces to attend eggs and young. Numbers overhead can change quickly with wind, cloud cover and insect availability, leaving a previously busy viewpoint suddenly quiet. These swifts spend almost their entire lives in the air, only landing to breed. During the breeding season, pairs will engage in aerial pursuits and displays around nesting sites. They are known to engage in 'screaming parties,' where groups of swifts fly rapidly and noisily together, often at dusk or dawn around colonies.

• It is endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago.
• Cape Verde swift is an alternative English name.
• It catches food while flying rather than landing to collect prey.
• Protected rock cavities provide nesting sites in volcanic landscapes.

As a resident endemic, Alexander’s swift may be encountered throughout the year. November to June offers a broadly practical period for Cape Verde land visits, although persistent winds can complicate viewing. Local insect activity is a better guide than assuming a single archipelago-wide breeding peak. Breeding generally occurs from March to June, corresponding with the peak insect availability after the dry season. Migration is not observed as they are a resident species throughout the archipelago. Local guides can often provide up-to-date information on recent sightings and insect activity patterns.

Rocky cliffs, ravines and mountainous volcanic landscapes provide nesting opportunities, while feeding birds range over settlements, farmland and open country. Coastal observation is possible where cliffs and valleys meet the sea. Breeding cavities may be high, concealed or entirely inaccessible. Breeding colonies are typically small and often found on inaccessible sea cliffs and inland ravines. While primarily a highland species, they will forage widely at lower elevations including coastal areas. They often return to the same nesting sites year after year, demonstrating strong site fidelity.

The diet consists of small flying insects and other airborne arthropods captured in flight. Birds track concentrations of prey above varied landscapes rather than feeding on the ground. Food availability changes with weather and rainfall-driven insect emergence across the islands. Prey items include a variety of small dipterans, hymenopterans, and coleopterans. Their foraging strategy involves continuously hawking for prey in the air, allowing them to exploit transient insect swarms. Unlike some other swift species, they do not typically form large feeding aggregations far from breeding colonies.

Common name

Alexander's Swift

Scientific name

Apus alexandri

Animal group

Birds

Size

13 cm long

Weight

Not reliably established

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Identification

Its small size, compact proportions and relatively short, shallowly forked tail help distinguish it from larger common and pallid swifts, although distant birds can be difficult. Its plumage is uniformly sooty brown, appearing almost black against a bright sky, with a slightly paler throat patch that is often difficult to see. The wing shape is distinctly sickle-like, typical of swifts, but appears more robust and less attenuated than larger species. Compared to the Common Swift, its tail fork is less pronounced, appearing almost square-ended in flight, and it has shorter wings relative to its body size.