Mottled Swift

Tachymarptis aequatorialis

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
FamilyApodidae (Swifts)
GenusTachymarptis (Mottled and Alpine Swifts)
SpeciesTachymarptis aequatorialis (Mottled Swift)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Queen Elizabeth National Park

4 Verified sightings at Queen Elizabeth National Park From 2019 to 2026

627 Verified sightings across all 30 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Mottled Swift

The mottled swift (Tachymarptis aequatorialis) is a species of bird in the swift family, Apodidae. It is very sparsely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa, although more so throughout East Africa. Jali Makawa noted that the Alomwe people hunted these swifts by swirling long bamboo poles above them to swat the swifts down. Makawa and C.W. Benson tasted these birds and found them palatable.

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

Closest Relatives at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Tachymarptis melba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Apus caffer

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Cypsiurus parvus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Apus horus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Apus apus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Apus barbatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Schoutedenapus myoptilus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Rhaphidura sabini

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Telacanthura ussheri

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Neafrapus cassini

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 11 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
2	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
3	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
4	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
5	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
6	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
7	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
8	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	<5%
9	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
10	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
11	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
12	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
13	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
14	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
15	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
16	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
17	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
18	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
19	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
20	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
21	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
22	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
23	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
24	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
25	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
26	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	Insufficient data
27	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
28	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
29	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
30	Nyungwe National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data

← Back to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Mottled Swift

About the Mottled Swift

Recent sightings of Mottled Swift in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Closest Relatives at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Alpine Swift

White-rumped Swift

Little Swift

African Palm-Swift

Horus Swift

Common Swift

African Swift

Scarce Swift

Sabine's Spinetail

Mottled Spinetail

Cassin's Spinetail

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found