The swift is sooty brown all over, but against the sky it appears black. It has long, scythe -like wings and a short, forked tail. You could mistake it for a swallow - but they do not bend their wings while flying. It is impossible to ever see them land. They sit only to lay eggs and incubate, which takes about three weeks. The nest of many species is glued to a vertical surface with saliva. The eggs hatch after 19 to 23 days, and the young leave the nest after a further six to eight weeks. Both parents assist in raising the young.
Swifts start their return journey to Africa in mid-July, before nights become too cool. They can’t roost overnight during the journey, like Swallows do, so they travel quickly. Youngsters are independent as soon as they leave the nest, and set out immediately on migration.
By mid-August, most Swifts have reached central Africa and reach southern Africa by September to October. They do not spend the winter in one place, but travel around according to food supplies and weather conditions.
Swifts are common Countrywide except in the dryer regions of the country. Most Swifts, like the Common (formerly European) Swift are silent and rare in South Africa as opposed to being vocal and abundant in Europe.
Local common names
Afrikaans: Windsvoel
Sesotho: Lehaqasi
Setswana: Peolwane
isiXhosa; Inkonjane
isiZulu: iHlolamvula
