Mottled Swift

Mottled Swift

Tachymarptis aequatorialis

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Tsavo West National Park
77 Verified sightings at Tsavo West National Park From 2019 to 2026
627 Verified sightings across all 30 parks From 2019 to 2026
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 Tsavo West National Park

Alpine Swift
LC

Alpine Swift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Tachymarptis melba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Little Swift
LC

Little Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus affinis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
African Palm-Swift
LC

African Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cypsiurus parvus

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

White-rumped Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus caffer

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

Common Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus apus

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

African Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus barbatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Horus Swift
LC

Horus Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus horus

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 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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Mottled Swift in Tsavo West National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mottled Swift sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 77 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Mottled Swift in Tsavo West National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Mottled Swift in Tsavo West National Park in our monthly data.

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