Alexander's Swift or Cape Verde Swift (Apus alexandri) is a small bird of the swift family found only in the Cape Verde Islands. It has been recorded from all the islands except Santa Luzia although it probably breeds only on Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Santo Antão and São Nicolau. It is generally common with a stable population and is not considered to be threatened. It can be seen flying over all habitats and hunts in flight for insects, foraging in flocks over gullies and along cliffs and shorelines. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... “Animalia” redirects here. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... “Aves” redirects here. ... Families Apodidae Hemiprocnidae Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three families: the swifts, Apodidae, the tree swifts, Hemiprocnidae, and the hummingbirds, Trochilidae. ... Genera Many; see text. ... Species Many, see list The bird genus Apus comprise some of the Old World members of the family Apodidae, commonly known as swifts. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal system of naming species. ... Ernst Johann Otto Hartert (October 29, 1859 - November 11, 1933) was an German ornithologist and oologist. ... “Aves” redirects here. ... Genera Many; see text. ... Santa Luzia (Portuguese for Saint Lucia) is an island of the Barlavento archipelago in Cape Verde located between São Nicolau and São Vicente. ... Santiago (Portuguese for Saint James), or Santiagu in the local Bádiu language, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nations population. ... Fogo (Portuguese for fire) is a volcanic island in the Sotavento group of Cape Verde. ... see also Brava (Disambiguation) Nova Sintra. ... Santo Antão (Portuguese for Saint Anthony) is the westernmost and largest of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde. ... São Nicolau is one of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde. ... Threatened species refers to animal and plant species under a serious, but perhaps not imminent, threat of extinction. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

It is 13 cm long with a wingspan of 34 to 35 cm. The plumage is dark grey-brown with a large pale throat-patch. Compared to other swifts recorded from the islands it is smaller with shorter wings and a shallower fork to the tail. Its flight action is weaker and more fluttering. It has a high-pitched, screaming call with a buzzing quality. Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ...

The nest is built in a crevice in a cliff, in a cave or in the roof of a building. It is saucer-shaped and made of grass and feathers. The eggs are white and a clutch size of two has been reported. A basket style nest A nest is place of refuge built to hold an animals eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... A clutch of blackbird (Turdus merula) eggs. ...

The name of the species commemorates Boyd Alexander, an English ornithologist who led two expeditions to the islands in 1897. Boyd Alexander (January 16, 1873 _ April 2, 1910) was an English Army officer, explorer and ornithologist. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the  United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total 130... Ornithology (from the Greek ornitha = chicken and logos = word/science) is the branch of biology concerned with the scientific study of birds. ...

References

• Clarke, Tony; Orgill, Chris & Dudley, Tony (2006) Field Guide to the Birds of the Atlantic Islands, Christopher Helm, London
• Snow, D. W. & Perrins, C. M. (1998) Birds of the Western Palearctic: Concise Edition, Vol. 1, Oxford University Press.

External link

• Mike Danzenbaker's Cape Verde Swift (Apus alexandri) Photo Page