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

African Palm-Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

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

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
FamilyApodidae (Swifts)
GenusCypsiurus (Old World Palm Swifts)
SpeciesCypsiurus parvus (African Palm-Swift)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

3 Verified sightings at Golden Gate Highlands National Park From 2019 to 2026

13,791 Verified sightings across all 54 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Apus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Apus caffer

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Tachymarptis melba

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Apus horus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Apus apus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

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

← Back to Golden Gate Highlands National Park

African Palm-Swift

About the African Palm-Swift

Recent sightings of African Palm-Swift in Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

African Swift

White-rumped Swift

Alpine Swift

Horus Swift

Little Swift

Common Swift

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found