Page 438 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

NIGHTJARS/SWIFTS/WOODPECKERS AND WRYNECKS
Family Caprimulgidae Species Caprimulgus ruficollis Family Apodidae Species Apus caffer
Red-necked Nightjar White-rumped Swift

This nightjar is restricted in range and habitat and best Overhead the White-rumped Swift is a fast-moving,
separated from the common Nightjar (see p.247) by narrow-winged,shapely swift,very dark except for paler
its call. Its rusty collar is distinctive in good light; both marks on the hindwing and sometimes a paler midwing
sexes have white wing and tail spots and usually a band. It has narrow, swept-back, scythe-shaped, stiff
large white throat patch.The shape and actions are the wings and a narrow, forked tail, often held closed in a
same as a Nightjar’s, very short- and broad-headed, single spike.The white rump is a narrow, curved band
long-tailed, and long-winged; the tail is often fanned barely visible from below (unlike the broad, easily seen
and broad, almost like a third wing. rump of the Little Swift).
OCCURRENCE Breeds almost throughout Spain and OCCURRENCE Breeds very locally
Portugal, rare in S France; rare vagrant elsewhere. in SW Spain; winters in Africa.
VOICE Repetitive, wooden, hollow, slightly squeaky VOICE Short, hard notes stiff
double tap, ko-tok ko-tok ko-tok ko-tok. running together as dark
wings
fast trill.
rusty collar
crescentic white
rump

pale
underwing
narrow,
forked tail
Length 30–34cm (12–13 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 60–65cm (23 1 ⁄2 –26in) Length 14–15cm (5 1 ⁄2 –6in) Wingspan 33–37cm (13–14 1 ⁄2in)

Family Apodidae Species Apus affinis Family Picidae Species Pacus canus
Little Swift Grey-headed Woodpecker
With straight, blade-like wings and a short, square tail, A brief view of this bird shows an obvious resemblance
the Little Swift looks paler-winged and darker-bodied to a GreenWoodpecker (see p.259): the Grey-headed
overhead, with a dull white throat, but in any other Woodpecker is slightly duller, with a plain grey
view the square white rump is very obvious. In head except for a thin
comparison, House Martins (see p.277) are less stiff- black line from the red forehead
and narrow-winged, and white beneath as well as on short, spiky bill (and
the rump;White-rumped Swifts have scythe-like a red forehead only thin
wings, a narrow white rump, and a deeply forked tail. on the male).The black
Flocks of Little Swifts are often seen over towns and rear flanks are line
villages in areas where this species is common. unmarked (faintly
OCCURRENCE Very rare vagrant from barred on Green)
N Africa and Middle East. dull white and the tail sides are
VOICE Fast, twittering sounds. throat also plain (not barred).
OCCURRENCE Widespread
broad white
rump in France, east through
C Europe and S Scandinavia.
VOICE “Laughing” call like
Green Woodpecker, much green
less ringing, with distinctive back
deceleration and fading away.
MALE
square
tail
Length 12–13cm (4 3 ⁄4 –5in) Wingspan 32–34cm (12 1 ⁄2 –13 1 ⁄2in) Length 27–30cm (10 1 ⁄2 –12in) Wingspan 45–50cm (18–20in)
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