Scarce Swift

Scarce Swift

Schoutedenapus myoptilus

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

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Murchison Falls National Park
36 Verified sightings at Murchison Falls National Park From 2019 to 2026
534 Verified sightings across all 17 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Scarce Swift

The scarce swift (Schoutedenapus myoptilus) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It has a disjunct range of presence throughout the Afromontane : Cameroon line, Albertine Rift montane forests, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.

It is the only species in the genus Schoutedenapus. Schouteden's swift (Schoutedenapus schoutedeni) was previously considered a distinct species, but was found to be a darker juvenile or sub-adult scarce swift subspecies chapini.

Scarce swift - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Murchison Falls National Park

African Palm-Swift
LC

African Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cypsiurus parvus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Little Swift
LC

Little Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
White-rumped Swift
LC

White-rumped Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus caffer

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Swift
LC

Common Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus apus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Swift
LC

African Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus barbatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Alpine Swift
LC

Alpine Swift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Tachymarptis melba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Horus Swift
LC

Horus Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus horus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Mottled Swift
LC

Mottled Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachymarptis aequatorialis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Cassin's Spinetail
LC

Cassin's Spinetail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Neafrapus cassini

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Nyanza Swift
LC

Nyanza Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus niansae

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 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
2 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
3 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
4 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
5 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
6 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
7 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
8 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
9 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
10 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
11 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
12 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
13 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
14 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
15 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
16 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
17 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Scarce Swift in Murchison Falls National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Scarce Swift sighting in Murchison Falls National Park, based on 36 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Scarce Swift in Murchison Falls National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Scarce Swift in Murchison Falls National Park in our monthly data.

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