Wildlifeof Nepal
House Swift
Nightjars, Frogmouths & Swifts
Photo: (c) WATANABE Hitoshi 渡辺仁, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Apus nipalensis
Basic stats
Diet
Insects, caught in the air
Habitat
Cliffs and urban areas; under roof overhangs and in tunnels
Range
Nepal to south-eastern China, Japan and Southeast Asia
Clutch size
1–5 eggs
Incubation period
20–30 days
Size
14–16cm
Weight
About 20–35g
The house swift is a small bird, but a medium-sized swift, 14 to 16cm long and weighing about 20 to 35g. It has black plumage, darker than the little swift, with a white rump band and a white throat patch and a dark, slightly forked tail. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the little swift. It is found from Nepal to south-eastern China and Japan and in parts of Southeast Asia (Wikipedia, general species account).
It has been found in the mountainous regions of Nepal and in cities and towns in China, Vietnam and Hong Kong. It is highly aerial and nests in cliffs or in urban areas, under roof overhangs or in tunnels. It builds a nest by sticking leaves, twigs and feathers together with saliva, with generally two broods a year. Clutches vary from one to five eggs, incubated for 20 to 30 days.
Quick answers
- What does the House Swift eat?
- Insects, caught in the air
- What habitat does the House Swift live in?
- Cliffs and urban areas; under roof overhangs and in tunnels
- Where is the House Swift found?
- Nepal to south-eastern China, Japan and Southeast Asia
- How many eggs does the House Swift lay?
- 1–5 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the House Swift incubated?
- 20–30 days
- How big is the House Swift?
- 14–16cm
- How much does the House Swift weigh?
- About 20–35g