The Scarce Swift occurs patchily in African highlands and gorges. Its long, deeply forked tail is distinctive, and it catches insects in flight.
It has a long, deeply forked tail, rounded head, and narrow wings. The upperparts are dark gray-brown, the chin pale gray, and the rest of the underparts brown.
In highland forest with gorges and waterfalls, it catches insects in flight. It may feed in large flocks and nests in cliff crevices; breeding details remain poorly known.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.