Plain swift: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Species of bird}}

{{Taxobox

{{Speciesbox

| name = Plain Swiftswift

| image = Einfarbsegler.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{IUCNcite iucn |idauthor=106001777BirdLife International |date=2017 |title=''Apus unicolor'' |assessorsvolume=[[BirdLife International]]2017 |versionpage=2012e.1T22686806A119263428 |yeardoi=201210.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22686806A119263428.en |accessdateaccess-date=1611 JulyNovember 20122021}}</ref>

| regnumtaxon = [[Animal]]iaApus unicolor

| binomial_authorityauthority = ([[William Jardine (naturalist)|Jardine]], 1830)

| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]

| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]

| ordo = [[Apodiformes]]

| familia = [[Apodidae]]

| genus = ''[[Apus (genus)|Apus]]''

| species = '''''A. unicolor'''''

| binomial = ''Apus unicolor''

| binomial_authority = ([[William Jardine (naturalist)|Jardine]], 1830)

}}

The '''plain Plain Swiftswift''' ('''''Apus unicolor''''') is a medium-sized [[Swift (bird)|swift]]. Although this [[bird]] is superficially similar to a [[Barnbarn Swallowswallow]] or [[HouseCommon house martin|house Martinmartin]], it is not related to those [[passerine]] species. The resemblances between the groups are due to [[convergent evolution]] reflecting similar life styles.

Swifts have very short legs that they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. They never settle voluntarily on the ground, and spend most of their lives in the air, feeding on [[insect]]s that they catch in their beaks. They drink on the wing.

Plain Swiftsswifts breed in colonies on cliffs, bridges and buildings on the [[Canary Islands]] and [[Madeira]], laying two eggs in a saucer-shaped nest made of floerheadsflowerheads glued with saliva. They are partially [[bird migration|migratory]], with somemany birds leaving to winter in northwestmainland [[Africa]]. Until recently it was thought that the birds wintered on the African coast but recent studies suggest they travel much further to the equatorial forests of Liberia and Guinea, a distance of 2,600 kilometres. Small numbers are also believed to breed in Morocco between Agadir and Essaouira, where a colony was found on coastal cliffs and possibly also in Mauritania where there are frequent sightings.<ref> Norton, T., Atkinson, P., Hewson, C. & Eduardo Garcia-del-Rey, E. 2018. [http://www.magornitho.org/2018/03/plain-swift-winter-west-africa/ Geolocator study reveals that Canarian Plain Swifts Apus unicolor winter in equatorial West Africa]. [https://africanbirdclub.org/sites/default/files/2013_Plain_Swift%20migration_Canary_Islands.pdf ''African Bird Club''] & ''Sociedad Ornitologica Canaria''. 15 pp</ref>

This 14–15&nbsp;cm long species is very similar to the closely related [[Commoncommon Swiftswift|Commoncommon]] and [[Pallidpallid Swiftswift]]s, which also occur in the archipelagos, and separation is only possible with good views. Like its relatives, it has a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a [[boomerang]].

It is entirely dark except for an indistinct pale throat patch. It is slimmer and more rakish than the Pallidpallid Swiftswift, and is darker than that species and lacks the obvious white throat.

Distinguishing the Plainplain Swiftswift from the similarly plumaged Commoncommon Swiftswift is much more difficult, although juvenile Commoncommon can be easily eliminated due to its white throat. The Plainplain is slimmer and appears longer winged than the Commoncommon, and has scaly underparts, difficult to see except with excellent views. The call is a loud dry scream similar to that of the Commoncommon Swiftswift, though possibly higher pitched.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

* ''Swifts'' by Chantler and Driessens, {{ISBN |1-873403-83-6}}

==External links==

* Madeira Birds: [http://www.madeirabirds.com/plain_swift Plain Swift]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1096617}}

[[Category:Apus (genus)]]

[[Category:Western Palearctic restricted-range endemic bird species]]

[[Category:Birds of the Canary Islands]]

[[Category:Birds of Madeira]]

[[Category:AnimalsBirds described in 1830]]

[[Category:Taxa named by Sir William Jardine]]