White-rumped Swift

Apus caffer

Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
FamilyApodidae (Swifts)
GenusApus (Typical Swifts)
SpeciesApus caffer (White-rumped Swift)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

1 Verified sightings at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park From 2019 to 2026

7,540 Verified sightings across all 53 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Apus apus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Apus barbatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Apus bradfieldi

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Cypsiurus parvus

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	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

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White-rumped Swift

About the White-rumped Swift

Recent sightings of White-rumped Swift in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Common Swift

Little Swift

African Swift

Bradfield's Swift

African Palm-Swift

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found