Scarce Swift

Scarce Swift

Schoutedenapus myoptilus

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

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Serengeti National Park
3 Verified sightings at Serengeti National Park From 2019 to 2026
534 Verified sightings across all 17 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ 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 Serengeti National Park

Little Swift
LC

Little Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
White-rumped Swift
LC

White-rumped Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus caffer

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
African Palm-Swift
LC

African Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cypsiurus parvus

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

Horus Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus horus

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
Mottled Swift
LC

Mottled Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachymarptis aequatorialis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Nyanza Swift
LC

Nyanza Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus niansae

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Alpine Swift
LC

Alpine Swift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Tachymarptis melba

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 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
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