White-rumped Swift
White-rumped SwiftWhite-rumped SwiftWhite-rumped SwiftWhite-rumped Swift

White-rumped Swift

Apus caffer

Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Etosha National Park
34 Verified sightings at Etosha National Park From 2019 to 2026
7,540 Verified sightings across all 53 parks From 2019 to 2026
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White-rumped Swift

The white-rumped swift (Apus caffer) is a species of swift. Although this small bird is superficially similar to a house martin, it is not closely related to that passerine species. The resemblances between the swallows and swifts are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

This 14–15.5 cm (5.5–6.1 in) long species has, like some relatives, a short forked tail and long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. It is entirely dark except for a pale throat patch and a narrow white rump. It is similar to the closely related little swift, but is slimmer, darker and has a more forked tail and a narrower white rump.

This is a quiet species compared to little swift, but a twittering trill is sometimes given. Like other swifts they 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 insects that they catch in their beaks. Like other swifts they drink on the wing.

The habitat of this species is dictated by that of its hosts, and is therefore normally man-made structures such as bridges... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Little Swift
LC

Little Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Common Swift
LC

Common Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus apus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Bradfield's Swift
LC

Bradfield's Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus bradfieldi

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Palm-Swift
LC

African Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cypsiurus parvus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
2 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
3 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
4 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
5 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
6 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
7 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~20%
8 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
9 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
10 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
11 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
12 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
13 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
14 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
15 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
16 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
17 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
18 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
19 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
20 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
21 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
22 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
23 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
24 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
25 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
26 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
27 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
28 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
29 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
30 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
31 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
32 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
33 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
34 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
35 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
36 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
37 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
38 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
39 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
40 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
41 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
42 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
43 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
44 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
45 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
46 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
47 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
Insufficient data
48 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
49 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
50 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
51 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
52 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
53 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a White-rumped Swift in Etosha National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a White-rumped Swift sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 34 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see White-rumped Swift in Etosha National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for White-rumped Swift in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.

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