Pallid Swift

The Pallid Swift is a summer migrant. It can generally be seen at both the Formentor peninsula in the north and Cap Blanc in the south. They have also been known to breed and nest in the cliff face close to the lighthouse at Portocolom on the south east coast.

Technical description

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) is a small bird, superficially similar to a barn swallow or house martin. Swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks. They drink on the wing. This 16–17 cm (6.4-6.8 in) long species is very similar to the common swift and separation is only possible with good views. Like its relative, it has a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or boomerang. It is entirely dark except for a large white throat patch which is frequently visible from a distance. It is chunkier and browner than the common swift and the slightly paler flight feathers, underparts and rump give more contrast than that species.