Black Swift (Apus apus): The Master of the Sky often confused with the Swallow!
The Black Swift, a tireless aerial acrobat, reigns over the summer skies.
Introduction: The lightning-fast bird of cities
The Black Swift (Apus apus) is an emblematic figure of our summer skies. This swift bird, with its aerodynamic silhouette and impressive speed, is a true master of flight. Unlike Barn Swallows with which it is often confused, the Black Swift is an almost entirely aerial bird, spending its life soaring, hunting, and even sleeping in the air. Its arrival heralds the height of summer, and its resounding black swift calls echo through towns and villages. This guide will help you unravel the mysteries of this amazing aerial acrobat and distinguish it from its winged cousins.
Identification: The scythe-shaped silhouette
Identifying the Black Swift is easy once you know its unique characteristics, especially its silhouette in flight.
Plumage and Characteristics
Color: The Black Swift is entirely brownish-black, with a small pale patch under the chin, often difficult to see at a distance.
Flight Silhouette: Its shape is distinctive. Its wings are very long, thin, and curved in the shape of a "scythe" or "boomerang," perfectly adapted for fast and agile swift flight.
Tail: Short and slightly forked, but never as deeply as that of swallows.
Size: Approximately 16-17 cm (6.3-6.7 inches) long, with an impressive wingspan of 42-48 cm (16.5-18.9 inches).
The Black Swift almost never perches on the ground or on utility wires, preferring to remain constantly in motion in the air. This is a distinctive trait of the true swift bird.
Our Ornithologist's Tip
By the Les-Oiseaux.com.com team, published on August 28, 2025
My advice: The Black Swift relies entirely on cavities for nesting, and these sites are becoming increasingly rare with building renovations. To help it, install specific swift nest boxes under the eaves of your house or nearby buildings. These nest boxes must have a small horizontal opening to prevent other birds from settling there. By offering a safe black swift nest, you directly contribute to the survival of this fascinating species.
Habitat and Nesting: Under roofs and cliffs
The black swift bird is a very adaptable species that has managed to take advantage of human constructions for its nesting.
Habitat
Historically, the Black Swift nested in rocky cliffs. Today, it is predominantly a bird of towns and villages, utilizing cavities offered by buildings. It is often found near open areas (fields, parks, wetlands) where it can hunt insects in abundance.
The Nest
The black swift nest is a modest but effective construction, often installed in wall cracks, under tiles, in ventilation holes, or in nest boxes. Unlike swallows, which use mud, the swift builds its nest with light materials collected in flight (feathers, grass stems, plant debris), which it glues together with its saliva. Young swifts, called "swiftlets," stay in the nest for a long time, developing their muscles before their spectacular first flight.
Geographical Range and Distribution Map
The map below illustrates the extensive breeding, non-breeding, and passage ranges of the Black Swift across the globe.
Breeding Range
Non-breeding Range
Passage Area
Migration: A transcontinental traveler
The Black Swift is an extraordinary migrant. Each year, it travels thousands of kilometers between its breeding grounds in Europe and its wintering quarters in Sub-Saharan Africa. It undertakes this migration at high altitude, often at night, feeding along the way. Its return in spring is a joyful sign of the arrival of warmer days.
Diet & Feeding: The aerial gleaner
The Black Swift is a strict insectivore, feeding exclusively on flying insects that it catches with its wide beak in flight. It hunts "aerial plankton" composed of flies, midges, aphids, small beetles, and spiders carried by the wind. Its efficiency makes it a natural regulator of insect populations, which is very beneficial for the environment.
Vocalizations: The shrill calls of the Swift
The Black Swift is recognizable by its distinctive black swift call, which is not a melodic song but a series of piercing and shrill swift calls.
Listen to the characteristic calls of the Black Swift:
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These black swift calls are particularly audible during their "evening gatherings," when the birds fly in noisy groups around nesting sites before perching for the night.
Other species to know: Don't confuse them anymore!
The most frequent confusion concerns the Black Swift and the Barn Swallow. Here are the key points to avoid mistaking them:
Silhouette and flight: The swift has longer, more curved wings (scythe-shaped), a more robust body, and its flight is faster and more powerful. The swallow has a finer silhouette, more pointed wings, and a very forked tail. Its swift flight is very different from the more graceful flight of the swallow.
Color: The swift is uniformly brownish-black. The swallow has a shiny blue-black back, pale underparts, and a brick-red throat.
Behavior: The swift almost never perches outside its nest. The swallow frequently perches on wires, branches, or roofs.
Nest: The black swift nest is made of materials cemented by saliva in a cavity. The swallow's nest is an open mud cup, attached to a wall.
By learning these differences, you can easily identify the majestic swift bird in the sky.
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Conservation Status & Threats
The Black Swift is classified as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List. However, its populations are experiencing declines in some regions, particularly in Western Europe.
Loss of nesting sites: Renovation and insulation of buildings eliminate many cavities suitable for the black swift nest.
Decrease in insects: The use of pesticides reduces the availability of its primary food.
Climate change: Can affect the synchronization between the arrival of swifts and the abundance of insects.
To help the Black Swift, it is essential to preserve existing nesting sites and to install suitable nest boxes. Informing building owners of the importance of these birds is also crucial.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Black Swift
How do I distinguish the Black Swift from the Barn Swallow?
The Black Swift is entirely brownish-black with long, scythe-shaped wings and a short, slightly forked tail. The Barn Swallow has a blue-black back, pale underparts, a red throat, and a long, deeply forked tail.
Where does the Black Swift build its nest?
The Black Swift nests in cavities: under roofs, in wall crevices, cracks in old buildings, or specially designed nest boxes. It builds its nest with airborne materials (feathers, grasses) cemented together with its saliva.
What is the typical call of the Black Swift?
Its call is a shrill and piercing “sriii-sriii” or “vrééé” emitted mainly in groups during high-speed aerial pursuits. It is very characteristic of urban summers.
Does the Black Swift often perch?
No, the Black Swift is an almost entirely aerial bird. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and mates in flight. It only perches for nesting, and rarely anywhere else.
