Gould observed 'This fine Swift is a summer visitant to the central and southern portions of Europe...In Berne and Fribourg, besides other places, it is known to breed in the steeples and cathedrals of those old towns...Almost every person who has had the opportunity of observing these birds speaks in terms of admiration of its vast powers of flight, it is not surprising, therefore, that an individual should now and then wing its way across the Channel to the British Islands.'

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds from Iberia and northwest Africa, through southern Europe (north to the Alps) eastwards to India, and eastern and southern Africa. Northern populations winter south to tropical Africa and southern India; southern Africa populations presumed to winter in tropical Africa. Rare vagrant to Britain though apparent increase in the last 40 years