Editing White-rumped swift

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Distinguish|White-rumped swiftlet}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = White-rumped swift
| image = White-rumped swift, Apus caffer, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (23057155930), crop.jpg
| image2 = White-rumped swift, Apus caffer, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (30213098810), crop.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=''Apus caffer'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T22686882A131921201 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22686882A131921201.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| taxon = Apus caffer
| authority = ([[Martin Lichtenstein|Lichtenstein, MHC]], 1823)
}}

The '''white-rumped swift''' ('''''Apus caffer''''') is a species of [[Swift (bird)|swift]]. Although this small [[bird]] is superficially similar to a [[Common house martin|house martin]], it is not closely related to that [[passerine]] species. The resemblances between the [[Hirundinidae|swallows]] and swifts are due to [[convergent evolution]] reflecting similar life styles.

==Description==
This {{convert|14|–|15.5|cm|abbr=on}} long species has, like some relatives, a short forked tail and long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a [[boomerang]]. It is entirely dark except for a pale throat patch and a narrow white rump. It is similar to the closely related little swift, but is slimmer, darker and has a more forked tail and a narrower white rump.

==Call==
This is a quiet species compared to little swift, but a twittering trill is sometimes given.

==Habits==
Like other swifts they have very short legs that they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. They never settle voluntarily on the ground, and spend most of their lives in the air, feeding on [[insect]]s that they catch in their beaks. Like other swifts they drink on the wing.

==Habitat==
The habitat of this species is dictated by that of its hosts, and is therefore normally man-made structures such as bridges and buildings.

==Breeding range==
White-rumped swifts breed in much of [[Sahara|sub-Saharan]] [[Africa]], and have expanded into [[Morocco]] and southern [[Spain]]. The populations in Spain, Morocco and the south of Africa are [[bird migration|migratory]], although their wintering grounds are not definitively known. Birds in tropical Africa are resident apart from seasonal movements. In 2022, nesting was observed in Corsica.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bien venu Martinet-cafre! |date=Dec 19, 2022|url=https://www.andorin.pt/en/post/bien-venu-martinet-cafre-1|website=andorin}}</ref>

==Breeding==
This species appropriates the nests of [[little swift]]s and those swallows which build retort-shaped nests. In Europe and north Africa, this usually means the [[red-rumped swallow]], but south of the Sahara other species like [[wire-tailed swallow]] are also parasitised. The original owners of the nests are driven away, or the white-rumps settle in the nest and refuse to move. Once occupied, the nest is lined with feathers and saliva, and one or two eggs are laid.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) (6041288566).jpg|{{center|pair at their nest}}
Swift White-rumped 2015 12 18 07 36 42 1782.jpg
Swift White-rumped 2015 12 18 07 27 23 1682, crop.jpg
White-rumped swift, Apus caffer, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (22724578894).jpg
White-rumped swift, Apus caffer, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (23244631962), crop.jpg
White-rumped swift, Apus caffer, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (23326865516), crop.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Apus caffer}}
* White-rumped swift - [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/415.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds].

{{Taxonbar|from=Q179356}}

[[Category:Apus (genus)|white-rumped swift]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds of North Africa]]
[[Category:Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1823|white-rumped swift]]