Common name: Pallid Swift
Scientific name: Apus pallidus
Family: Apodidae

Size:
Body length: 15–17 cm
Wingspan: 39–44 cm
Weight: 35–50 g

Identification:
A medium-sized swift with long, scythe-shaped wings and a compact body. It appears overall brown rather than deep black, with a slightly paler throat patch. Compared to the Common Swift, it looks softer in tone with less contrast. In good light, subtle scaling on the underparts may be visible. Flight is fast and fluid.

Habitat:
Urban areas, cliffs, coastal zones, and open landscapes. Often associated with buildings and rocky structures for nesting.

Status in the UAE:
Common resident and breeder. Widely distributed, especially in urban and coastal areas.

Status in Lebanon:
Common breeder and passage migrant. Found in cities, cliffs, and coastal regions.

Diet:
Insectivorous — feeds exclusively on flying insects caught in the air.

Behavior:
Highly aerial and spends most of its life in flight. Rarely lands except to nest. Often seen flying in groups, producing loud, screaming calls. Nests in crevices of buildings or cliffs. Known for fast, continuous flight and acrobatic maneuvers.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)