African palm swift

Introduction: African palm-swifts (Cypsiurus parvus) inhabit semi-dry savannahs with scattered palms and in towns with native and alien fan palms. Roosts on palm frond near nest, huddling together in the winter months. Skims water during flight to drink.

Distribution: A sub species C.p. Hyphaenes is found in northern and eastern Namibia areas such as Etosha National Park, Epupa Falls, Tsumkwe, Kaudom Game Reserve, Bwabwata National Park, Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. An unidentified species has been observed in central Namibia, Windhoek and Kalahari Desert regions.

Diet: Aerial insects such as flies, termites, beetles and ants.

Description: Cypsiurus is the Greek word for 'swallow-tailed' and parvis is the Latin word for small. These birds are also slender, a dull brown colour with very, long, deeply forked tails. They are associated with palm trees, hence the name.

Breeding: A shallow cup of feathers and plant matter is built by both sexes. Just 1 or 2 eggs are laid between September and March with an incubation period of around 22 days. Nestlings fall prey to spotted eagle-owls, pied crow, African black swift and Bradfield's swift.

Size: 15cm.

Weight: 14g.