Family/Sub-family Apodidae

Species name author (Ogilvie-Grant, 1904)

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993)

Taxonomic note Apus barbatus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into A. barbatus and A. sladeniae following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993). A. balstoni (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) is retained as a separate species contra Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993) who include balstoni as a subspecies of A. barbatus.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

unset

12,600 km²

No

Range & population Apus sladeniae is known from the Bakossi Mountains in west Cameroon (one record only), south-east Nigeria (one record only)² and Mt Moco in Angola (though the Angolan specimens need confirmation)^4,5. It is also known from Bioko, Equatorial Guinea, where six specimens were collected in 1903, but with no subsequent records³. There is a possible sighting (requiring confirmation) of c.10 birds at Moca in Monte Alen National Park in January 1998 - the first record for mainland Equatorial Guinea¹. It has been suggested that the species breeds on Bioko and visits the mainland during the non-breeding season, but its true status (including its taxonomic position relating to African Swift A. barbatus) remains uncertain.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It is probably primarily a mountain species.

Threats Unknown, but may be threatened by forest loss in part or all of its range.

Conservation measures underway None is known.

Conservation measures proposed Clarify taxonomic position relating to African Swift A. barbatus and identity of birds in northern Liberia. Survey mountainous areas near locations of historical records. Attempt to clarify its movements and ecological requirements.

References Collar and Stuart (1985). 1. Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett (1999a). 2. Elgood (1981). 3. Pérez del Val (1996). 4. da Rosa Pinto (1983). 5. Traylor (1960).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Apus sladeniae. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums