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Species › Birds

Little Swift

Apus affinis

Order
Apodiformes
Family
Apodidae
Presence in the Strait
Seasonal
Abundance
rare
IUCN (global)
LC · Least concern
In Spanish
Vencejo moro

Photograph: Derek Keats, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length
12 cm
Wingspan
34–35 cm
Weight
26 g
02040LENGTH12 cmWINGSPAN34–35 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Rare summer visitor. Like the White-rumped Swift, it is a colonising species that originates from Africa but more recent. The first observation was made on 21.04.83 between Facinas and Tahivilla; two years later at Ceuta on 10.02.85 and at Zahara de los Atunes on 9 & 22.04.85. Later one dead bird was found at La Janda on 19.05.87. Since 1995, the number of sightings has increased in different places (River Guadiaro estuary, Gibraltar, Ceuta...) but in a more continuous way in the Sierra de la Plata (Tarifa) where breeding was confirmed in July, 2000.

Identification

Similar to a White-rumped Swift but smaller, rather square-cut tail and larger white rump sides visible from below. In flight, it resembles a Common House Martin. Apodidae Vencejo Cafre Vencejo Moro

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.