African Palm-Swift

Afrikaans name: Palmwindswael

Above - African Palm-Swift

Photo © Steven Herbert

Cypsiurus parvus

The African Palm-Swift is a small and very slim swift. The wings are long and thin while its long tail is forked.

As with most swifts the Palm-Swift is only likely to be seen in flight. They are normally seen in small, but loose, flocks. At night it roosts underneath a palm leaf.

This bird is a common species in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo. It is linked to areas that have palm trees for roosting and breeding.

As Palm-Swifts are always in flight during the day it is not surprising to hear that their food consists of insects that are caught in flight.

When it comes to breeding the Palm-Swift naturally chooses the underside of a palm leaf to place the nest, although they occasionally do use man-made structures. The nest and eggs are stuck on using saliva. Normally two eggs are laid and are incubated by the parents who have to cling to the leaf to cover the eggs.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	387	Tachynautes parvus parvus
2nd	387	Cypsiurus parvus
3rd	387	Cypsiurus parvus
4th	387	Cypsiurus parvus
5th	421	Cypsiurus parvus
6th	421	Cypsiurus parvus
7th	144	Cypsiurus parvus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	387	Palm Swift
2nd	387	Palm Swift
3rd	387	Palm Swift
4th	387	Palm Swift
5th	421	Palm Swift
6th	421	Palm Swift
7th	144	African Palm Swift

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	387	Palm-windswawel
2nd	387	Palm-windswavel
3rd	387	Palm-windswael
4th	387	Palm-windswael
5th	421	Palmwindswael
6th	421	Palmwindswael
7th	144	Palmwindswael

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 120

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 42

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 158

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 48

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 168

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 363

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 244

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 252

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 277

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 367

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 206

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 264

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 72

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 8

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 172

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 240

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 240

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 111

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 83

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 118

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 139

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 43

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 53

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 156

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 122

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 88

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 88

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 167

BirdLife South Africa

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