African Palm-Swift
African Palm-SwiftAfrican Palm-SwiftAfrican Palm-SwiftAfrican Palm-Swift

African Palm-Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Silhouette: Aviceda (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Garden Route National Park
109 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026
13,791 Verified sightings across all 54 parks From 2019 to 2026
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the African Palm-Swift

The African palm swift (Cypsiurus parvus) is a small swift. It is very similar to the Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis, and was formerly considered to be the same species. The Malagasy palm swift was also recently split from this species. This is a common species with a very wide distribution which faces no obvious threats and may be increasing in numbers as a result of the cultivation of the exotic Washington palm, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

This 16 cm long species is mainly pale brown in colour. It has long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. The body is slender, and the tail is long and deeply forked, although it is usually held closed. The call is a loud, shrill scream. Sexes are similar, and young birds differ mainly in their shorter tails. Palm swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces, since swifts never settle voluntarily on the ground.

The African palm swift is native to Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Garden Route National Park

White-rumped Swift
LC

White-rumped Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus caffer

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
African Swift
LC

African Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Alpine Swift
LC

Alpine Swift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Tachymarptis melba

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Little Swift
LC

Little Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Swift
LC

Common Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus apus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Horus Swift
LC

Horus Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus horus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~80%
2 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~60%
3 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~60%
4 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
5 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
6 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~50%
7 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
8 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~40%
9 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
10 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
11 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
12 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
13 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
14 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
15 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~30%
16 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
17 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
18 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
19 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
20 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
21 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~30%
22 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
23 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
24 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
25 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
26 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
27 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
28 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
29 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
30 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~20%
31 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
32 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
33 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
34 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
35 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
36 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
37 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
38 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
39 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
40 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
41 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
42 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
43 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
44 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
45 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
46 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
47 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
48 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
49 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
50 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
51 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
52 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
53 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
54 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a African Palm-Swift in Garden Route National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a African Palm-Swift sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 109 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see African Palm-Swift in Garden Route National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for African Palm-Swift in Garden Route National Park in our monthly data.

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