Image: Little swift, Apus affinis, at Kruger National Park, South Africa, crop

Description: The little swift is a small species of swift found primarily in Africa and southwestern Asia. They are difficult to photograph as they are always on the move, and they move quite quickly. They actually in my yard every day, but I have not managed to get a good photo of them here. In January, I spent some hours trying to get one photo at Satara Campsite in Kruger National Park. I managed three decent photos. Swifts comprise the family Apodidae and are highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are not related to them or any other passerine (perching) birds, instead belonging to the order Apodiformes along with hummingbirds. Resemblance between swifts and swallows is a result of convergent evolution, reflecting a similar niche that involves catching insects in flight.
Title: Little swift, Apus affinis, at Kruger National Park, South Africa, crop
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93242958@N00/49178319556/
Author: Derek Keats
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes