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Bradfield’s Swift

Bradfield’s Swift

Apus bradfieldi

Photo © Thibaud Aronson

Photo © Thibaud Aronson — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: iNaturalist #87981498

ABOUT

Subspecies of Bradfield's Swift

Apus bradfieldi bradfieldiApus bradfieldi deserticola

Bradfield's swift (Apus bradfieldi) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the South African naturalist R. D. Bradfield (1882–1949).

HOTSPOTS

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Augrabies Falls National Park

Kai !Garib Local Municipality·South Africa

+176 birds+20 mammals

Dorob National Park

Henties Bay·Namibia

+230 birds+13 mammals

Etosha National Park

+356 birds+58 mammals

Mokala National Park

Siyancuma Local Municipality·South Africa

+246 birds+35 mammals

NamibRand Nature Reserve

Hammerstein·Namibia

+107 birds+12 mammals

Observation Point

Skeleton Coast Park

Barcelona·Namibia

+143 birds+7 mammals

Sperrgebiet National Park

Barcelona·Namibia

+181 birds+18 mammals

Waterberg Plateau National Park

Okambukonde·Namibia

+198 birds+27 mammals

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Biological profile

Bradfield’s Swift

A compact view of how this species lives, moves and responds to its environment.

The species at a glance

Select a card to explore the details.

Movement

Does it remain in the same area?: It varies between populations
How does it move?: Nomadism
Can its movements be anticipated?: It depends on local conditions

Activity

When is it active?: Mainly active by day
Does it have inactive periods?: No known inactive period

How to detect it

Is it easy to find?: It takes some patience
How can you detect it?: Visual
Does it tend to hide?: It usually remains visible
Do you need a specific technique?: Usually not
Which seasonal signs help?: None Known

Habitat

Which environment does it live in?: Aerial
Which places does it prefer?: Desert
Can it adapt to different habitats?: It needs very specific habitats
At what level of the habitat does it move?: Aerial

Feeding

What kind of food does it eat?: Insectivore
How does it get its food?: Aerial Hawking

Social life

Does it usually live alone or in a group?: It usually lives in groups
Does it gather at certain times?: It does not usually gather seasonally

Reproduction

How does it breed?: Colonial
Where does it breed?: Cliff
Key moments in its annual cycle: Egg Laying · Environment Triggered

Spatial ecology

Does it defend a territory?: No, it does not usually defend a territory
How far does it usually travel?: Across a whole region
In which major regions does it live?: Afrotropical

Environmental response

Does its calendar change from place to place?: Yes, it responds to local conditions
Which factors change its calendar?: Food PulseHydrology
Which conditions influence its behaviour?: Food Availability · MovementHydrology · Breeding

Sensitivity

Is it affected by human disturbance?: Very sensitive — it needs distance and little disturbance
When does it need the most space?: Breeding Colony

Global profile. Local behaviour and timing may vary.

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