Horus swift

Introduction: Horus swift (Apus horus) forage over open habitats including desert and semi-desert, grassland, savannah, rivers, lakes and coastal dunes, from sea level to 3,000m. Generally they avoid mountain tops and human settlements.

Distribution: Only a few scattered populations can be observed in Namibia; Epupa Falls, Katima Mulilo/Zambezi River area, Windhoek, Waterberg Plateau and Erongo Mountains.

Diet: Diverse diet including weevels, spiders and ants, bugs, termites, butterflies, flies, wasps and beetles.

Description: Often confused with little swift and white-rumped swift. Mainly silent.

Breeding: Occupies nests excavated by other birds such kingfishers, martins and bee-eaters. Lays between 2 and 4 eggs between October to Apri with an incubation period of 28 days.

Size: 15cm.

Weight: 26g.