Horus swift

The Horus swift is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae that is found in sub-Saharan Africa. Horus, whose name this bird commemorates, was the ancient Egyptian god of the sun, son of Osiris and Isis.

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Distribution

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Typical Environment

Occurs patchily from eastern to southern Africa, including river valleys, open savannas, farmlands, and settlements near suitable earthen banks. It is closely associated with sandy or loess riverbanks, quarries, and cuttings where nesting burrows are available. Birds forage widely over open country, often near water and along escarpments. Local movements track rains and aerial insect swarms, and colonies may shift with erosion and bank stability.

Altitude Range

0–3000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size13–15 cm

Wing Span32–36 cm

Male Weight0.022 kg

Female Weight0.023 kg

Life Expectancy10 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Horus swift is a small, fast-flying swift of sub-Saharan Africa, named after the ancient Egyptian god Horus. Unlike many swifts, it often nests in burrows in riverbanks, frequently reusing tunnels made by bee-eaters or kingfishers. It spends most of its life on the wing, feeding, drinking, and even bathing in flight.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

fast, agile flier with rapid scything wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically nests colonially in burrows, often appropriating tunnels excavated by bee-eaters or kingfishers in sandy banks. Pairs are monogamous within the season and line nest chambers with feathers and fine plant material. They form mixed-species feeding flocks with other swifts and swallows, especially after rains.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

Vocalizations are high-pitched twitters and dry, chittering calls, especially around colonies. In flight, emits sharp, rapid notes used to keep contact with flockmates.

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Identification

Leg Colorblackish-grey

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Sooty-brown overall with slight gloss, contrasting small white rump patch and a pale throat that can appear whitish. Underparts are dark with slightly paler throat and underwing coverts. Tail is short and shallowly notched.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds almost exclusively on aerial insects, including flying ants, termites, flies, beetles, and small wasps. Captures prey on the wing at varying heights, from just above water to high over open country. Will exploit mass emergences of termites after rain and may join large aerial feeding aggregations.

Preferred Environment

Usually feeds over rivers, floodplains, open savanna, and farmland, and around colonies along eroded banks. Frequently forages near storms and thermal updrafts where insect density is high.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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