Birdsong field guide
Dark-rumped Swift
Apus acuticauda
A rare and elusive aerial insectivore of the Eastern Himalayas, distinguished from similar swifts by its entirely dark upperparts and deeply forked tail.
What it sounds like
High-pitched, rapid tittering or screaming notes, similar to but thinner than the Common Swift.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It is globally classified as Vulnerable due to its restricted breeding range and small, fragmented population.
- Unlike the similar Pacific Swift, it lacks a white rump patch, appearing uniformly dark-sooty from above.
- Nesting occurs on vertical cliff faces and inside caves, often in close proximity to waterfalls.
- The species name 'acuticauda' is Latin for 'sharp-tail,' referencing its deeply forked tail with needle-like tips.
- It is a highly aerial species, spending the vast majority of its life airborne, even foraging in high-altitude clouds.
Habitat
High-altitude cliffs, rocky gorges, and mountainous river valleys.
Range
Eastern Himalayas (Bhutan, Northeast India) and parts of Southeast Asia including Myanmar and Thailand.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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