About Apus nipalensis (Hodgson, 1837)
The house swift (Apus nipalensis) is a bird species that looks quite similar to the little swift. It is small in general bird terms, but considered a medium-sized swift. Its body length measures 14 to 16 cm, its wingspan ranges from 12.5 to 14.5 cm, and it weighs approximately 20 to 35 g. This species has a dark, slightly forked tail. Apart from a white rump band and a white throat patch, the house swift has entirely black plumage, which is darker than the plumage of the little swift. The house swift is highly aerial, and spends most of its time feeding in the air. It is generally found across the Asian continent, with each subspecies having a slightly different distribution across the continent. The subspecies Apus nipalensis nipalensis occurs from Nepal to Southeastern China, Japan, and parts of Southeast Asia. Apus nipalensis subfurcatus is found in the Malay Peninsula and other Southeast Asian islands. Apus nipalensis furcatus occurs on Java and Bali in Indonesia. Apus nipalensis kuntzi lives only on the island of Taiwan. House swifts inhabit both urban and rural areas of Asia; they have been recorded in the mountainous regions of Nepal, as well as in cities and towns across China, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. The species has only been recorded in North America once, in 2012, and was identified as a house swift via DNA sequencing. This observation was not accepted, however, because the bird was already dead when it was found. The house swift has one annual breeding season, and generally raises two broods per year. The first egg-laying period spans three weeks. By early June, all fledglings from the first clutch have flown the nest. A few weeks later, the second clutch hatches, and the last fledglings leave the nest by mid-September. Clutch size can vary from one to five eggs, and the incubation period lasts between 20 and 30 days.
