Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae

The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds. The treeswifts are closely related to the true swifts, but form a separate family, the Hemiprocnidae. The resemblances between swifts and swallows are due to convergent evolution, reflecting similar life styles based on catching insects in flight. The family scientific name comes from the Ancient Greek ap???, apous, meaning "without feet", since swifts have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, clinging instead to vertical surfaces. The tradition of depicting swifts without feet continued into the Middle Ages, as seen in the heraldic martlet.

Tribe Cypseloidini Genus Cypseloides English Norsk Latin Spot-fronted Swift Hvitflekkseiler Cypseloides cherriei White-chinned Swift Blekhakeseiler Cypseloides cryptus Sooty Swift Sotseiler Cypseloides fumigatus White-chested Swift Hvitbrystseiler Cypseloides lemosi Black Swift Svartseiler Cypseloides niger Tepui Swift Tepuiseiler Cypseloides phelpsi Rothschild's (Giant) Swift Saltaseiler Cypseloides rothschildi Great Dusky Swift Fosseseiler Cypseloides senex White-fronted Swift Mestisseiler Cypseloides storeri Genus Streptoprocne (3-4 species)   Biscutate Swift, Streptoprocne biscutata   Tepui Swift, Streptoprocne phelpsi   White-naped Swift, Streptoprocne semicollaris   White-collared Swift, Streptoprocne zonaris   Chestnut-collared Swift, Streptoprocne rutila Tribe Collocaliini - swiftlets Genus Collocalia   Glossy Swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta       Grey-rumped Swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta marginata       Christmas Island Swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta natalis   Cave Swiftlet, Collocalia linchi   Pygmy Swiftlet, Collocalia troglodytes Genus Aerodramus (sometimes included in Collocalia) Engelsk Norsk Latinsk Mariana (Guam) Swiftlet Marianesalangan Aerodramus bartschi Himalayan Swiftlet Orientsalangan Aerodramus brevirostris Seychelles Swiftlet Seychellsalangan Aerodramus elaphrus Mascarene Swiftlet Maskarenesalangan Aerodramus francicus Edible-nest Swiftlet Reirsuppesalangan Aerodramus fuciphagus German's Swiftlet Kystsalangan Aerodramus germani Mountain Swiftlet Bergsalangan Aerodramus hirundinaceus Moluccan Swiftlet Wallaceasalangan Aerodramus infuscatus Caroline Islands (Micronesian) Swiftlet Karolinesalangan Aerodramus inquietus Polynesian (Tahiti) Swiftlet Tahitisalangan Aerodramus leucophaeus Black-nest Swiftlet Malaysalangan Aerodramus maximus Philippine Swiftlet Filippinersalangan Aerodramus mearnsi Bare-legged Swiftlet Nakenbeinsalangan Aerodramus nuditarsus Marquesan Swiftlet Marquesassalangan Aerodramus ocistus Mayr's Swiftlet Enigmasalangan Aerodramus orientalis Palawan Swiftlet Palawansalangan Aerodramus palawanensis Papuan Swiftlet Papuasalangan Aerodramus papuensis Palau Swiftlet Palausalangan Aerodramus pelewensis Indochinese Swiftlet Karenersalangan Aerodramus rogersi Mossy-nest Swiftlet Sundasalangan Aerodramus salangana Atiu Swiftlet Atiusalangan Aerodramus sawtelli White-rumped Swiftlet Melanesiasalangan Aerodramus spodiopygius Australian Swiftlet Australsalangan Aerodramus terraereginae Indian Swiftlet Indiasalangan Aerodramus unicolor Uniform Swiftlet Monsunsalangan Aerodramus vanikorensis Volcano Swiftlet Vulkansalangan Aerodramus vulcanorum Whitehead's Swiftlet Storhodesalangan Aerodramus whiteheadi Genus Hydrochous   Giant Swiftlet, Hydrochous gigas Genus Schoutedenapus - African swiftlets   Scarce Swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus   Schouteden's Swift, Schoutedenapus schoutedeni Tribe Chaeturini - needletails Genus Mearnsia   Philippine Spine-tailed Swift, Mearnsia picina   Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, Mearnsia novaeguineae Genus Zoonavena   Madagascar Spinetail, Zoonavena grandidieri   São Tomé Spinetail, Zoonavena thomensis   White-rumped Spinetail, Zoonavena sylvatica Genus Telacanthura   Black Spinetail, Telacanthura melanopygia   Mottled Spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri Genus Rhaphidura   Silver-rumped Spinetail, Rhaphidura leucopygialis   Sabine's Spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini Genus Neafrapus   Böhm's Spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi   Cassin's Spinetail, Neafrapus cassini Genus Hirundapus   White-throated Needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus   Purple Needletail, Hirundapus celebensis   Silver-backed Needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis   Brown-backed Needletail, Hirundapus giganteus Genus Chaetura Engelsk Norsk Latinsk Ashy-tailed Swift Askeseiler Chaetura andrei Short-tailed Swift Korthaleseiler Chaetura brachyura Chapman's Swift Guyanaseiler Chaetura chapmani Gray-rumped Swift Grågumpseiler Chaetura cinereiventris Pale-rumped Swift Selvasseiler Chaetura egregia Costa Rican Swift Røykseiler Chaetura fumosa Lesser Antillean Swift Antillseiler Chaetura martinica Sick's Swift   Chaetura meridionalis Tumbes Swift Tumbesseiler Chaetura ocypetes Chimney Swift Skorsteinsseiler Chaetura pelagica Band-rumped Swift Kolibriseiler Chaetura spinicaudus Vaux's Swift Brunseiler Chaetura vauxi Amazonian Swift   Chaetura viridipennis Tribe Apodini - typical swifts Genus Aeronautes (3 species)   White-throated Swift, Aeronautes saxatalis   White-tipped Swift, Aeronautes montivagus   Andean Swift, Aeronautes andecolus Genus Tachornis   Pygmy Palm Swift, Tachornis furcata   Neotropical Palm Swift, Tachornis squamata   Antillean Palm Swift, Tachornis phoenicobia Genus Panyptila   Great Swallow-tailed Swift, Panyptila sanctihieronymi   Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Panyptila cayennensis Genus Cypsiurus   Asian Palm Swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis   African Palm Swift, Cypsiurus parvus Genus Tachymarptis   Alpine Swift, Tachymarptis melba   Mottled Swift, Tachymarptis aequatorialis Genus Apus Engelsk Norsk Latinsk Dark-rumped Swift Khasiseiler Apus acuticauda Little Swift Småseiler Apus affinis Alexander's Swift Kappverdeseiler Apus alexandri Common Swift Tårnseiler Apus apus Madagascar Swift Gasserseiler Apus balstoni African Swift Negerseiler Apus barbatus Bates' Swift Kamerunseiler Apus batesi Forbes-Watson's Swift Somaliseiler Apus berliozi Bradfield's Swift Namibseiler Apus bradfieldi White-rumped Swift Kafferseiler Apus caffer Cook's Swift   Apus cooki Horus Swift Horusseiler Apus horus Blyth's Swift   Apus leuconyx Nyanza Swift Klippeseiler Apus niansae House Swift Husseiler Apus nipalensis Fork-tailed Swift, Pacific Swift Gaffelseiler Apus pacificus Pallid Swift Gråseiler Apus pallidus Salim Ali's Swift   Apus salimali Fernando Po Swift   Apus sladeniae Plain Swift Kanariseiler Apus unicolor

Swift, Tårnseiler, Apus apus 
Tårnsvale
UK: Swift DE: Mauersegler FR: Martinet noir ES: Vencejo Común CZ: rorýs obecný DA: Mursejler
DU: Gierzwaluw IT: Rondone FI: Tervapääsky PT: Andorinhao-preto SE: Tornseglare NO: Tarnseiler
TR: ebabi EE: Piiritaja SYN: Falciot negre Sorbeltz arrunt


© http://www.ecosystema.ru/

Swifts are found during summer throughout Europe and much of Asia. They arrive in Europe mainly during April and May
and start their journey south around August. European birds tend to overwinter in Africa south of Zaire and Tanzania.



They have sickle shaped wings and dark underparts apart from a pale throat. Almost invariably seen only in flight,
they beat their wings rapidly one minute and then glide the next.
They frequently associate with Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica as they both hunt incessantly for insects.


Nest sites were traditionally cliffs, caves and crags but these have been largely replaced by buildings. An intensely aerial bird,
almost all activity other than nesting, including nocturnal roosting, is carried out on the wing.
 text http://www.arthurgrosset.com/