Species of Swifts

Swift Information ... Swift Species Photo Gallery

Taxonomic species list: Family Apodidae

Tribe Cypseloidini

• Genus Cypseloides (9-10 species)


• Genus Streptoprocne (3-4 species)
  • Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata)
  • Tepui Swift (Streptoprocne phelpsi)
  • White-naped Swift (Streptoprocne semicollaris)
  • White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)

Tribe Collocaliini - swiftlets

Tribe Chaeturini - needletails

• Genus Mearnsia
  • Philippine Needletail (Mearnsia picina)
  • Papuan Needletail (Mearnsia novaeguineae); alternatively Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, New Guinea Spine-tailed Swift or Papua Spinetail.


• Genus Zoonavena
  • Malagasy Spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri)
  • São Tomé Spinetail (Zoonavena thomensis)
  • White-rumped Needletail (Zoonavena sylvatica)


• Genus Telacanthura
  • Black Spinetail (Telacanthura melanopygia)
  • Mottled Spinetail (Telacanthura ussheri)


• Genus Rhaphidura
  • Silver-rumped Spinetail (Rhaphidura leucopygialis)
  • Sabine's Spinetail (Rhaphidura sabini)


• Genus Neafrapus
  • Bat-like Spinetail (Neafrapus boehmi)
  • Cassin's Spinetail (Neafrapus cassini)


• Genus Hirundapus
  • White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus)
  • Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis)
  • Silver-backed Needletail (Hirundapus cochinchinensis)
  • Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus)


• Genus Chaetura

Tribe Apodini - typical swifts

• Genus Aeronautes (3 species)
  • White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)
  • White-tipped Swift (Aeronautes montivagus)
  • Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus)


• Genus Tachornis (3 living species)
  • Pygmy Swift (Tachornis furcata)
  • Fork-tailed Palm Swift (Tachornis squamata)
  • Antillean Palm Swift (Tachornis phoenicobia)

• Genus Panyptila
  • Great Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila sanctihieronymi)
  • Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila cayennensis)


• Genus Cypsiurus (2 species)


• Genus Apus (some 17 species)

  Known fossil species are:

  • Apus gaillardi (Middle/Late Miocene of La Grive-St.-Alban, France)
  • Apus wetmorei (Early - Late Pliocene? of SC and SE Europe)
  • Apus baranensis (Late Pliocene of SE Europe)
  • Apus submelba (Middle Pleistocene of Slovakia).

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