Salim Ali's swift (Apus salimalii) is a small bird, superficially similar to a house martin.

The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

Salim Ali's swifts breed from the eastern Tibetan Plateau eastwards through western Sichuan province.

This swift is longer tailed and has a narrower white rump compared to other species in the complex.

They can be distinguished from a partially leucistic common swift by the deeper tail fork, longer wings, bigger head and larger white throat patch.