Nyanza swift facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nyanza swift |
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The Nyanza swift (Apus niansae) is a type of swift bird. It belongs to the Apodidae family. You can find this swift in several African countries. These include Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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Spotting the Nyanza Swift
The Nyanza swift is also called the brown swift. It's a medium-sized bird with smooth, pointed wings. Its head is small and neat. This swift has a short, forked tail. Its outer wings are pale brown. Its throat is also pale.
It can be hard to spot the Nyanza swift in the wild. You often need a good view or clear photo. They are seen more often during the rainy season. They are rare during dry times of the year.
Where Nyanza Swifts Live
Nyanza swifts live in high places. They like gorges and cliff faces. You can also find them in cities and towns. They have been seen in Eritrea and Western Ethiopia. They also live in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya. You can find them in Northern Tanzania too.
These birds look for food in wet areas. They are rarely found in low-lying places.
Nyanza Swift Journeys
The Nyanza swift is a partially migratory bird. This means some of them travel. They have been recorded in North Somalia from March to September. They are also seen in Addis Ababa during the rainy season. This happens from February to April and June to September.
Some Nyanza swifts stay in one place. This depends on their home. Swifts from Kenya are thought to be birds that spend winter there.
What Nyanza Swifts Eat and Do
The Nyanza swift is a scavenger. This means it sometimes eats dead animals. It also eats many bugs and insects. These include flies, beetles, and bees.
Nyanza swifts are most active early in the morning. They are also seen one to two hours before sunset. They feed throughout the day. When they are nesting, they stay active all day long.
Reproduction and Nesting
Nyanza swifts build their nests in groups. They like steep, rocky areas. Gorges and cliff faces are popular spots. They also nest on tall buildings. You can find them under house eaves in air vents.
They usually nest during two rainy seasons. June through September is the best time. February through April is another time, but less common. Nyanza swifts build their nests with feathers, grass, and their own saliva. If they can't find enough materials, they might use mud. They also use concrete fragments.
After the eggs are laid, they hatch in about nineteen days.
