Edible-nest Swiftlet vs African Swift

Aerodramus fuciphagus مقارنةً بـ Apus barbatus

Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Edible-nest Swiftlet African Swift
الاسم العلمي Aerodramus fuciphagus Apus barbatus
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 22,6 cm (8.9 in) 34,2 cm (13.5 in)
الوزن 13,040000000000001 g (0.46 oz) 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz)
النظام الغذائي Obligate aerial insectivore; catches minute flies, beetles, and aerial spiders while foraging near cave roosts. Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or …
عدد البيض في الوضع 1-2 1-2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

Edible-nest Swiftlet only

African Swift only

بلا

Song & Call Comparison

Edible-nest Swiftlet

الغناء

Rapid twittering; 'chip-chip-chip' over Southeast Asian coast; strong echolocation clicks distinctive in cave roosts; colonial nester; calls produce audible clicking chorus in caves

African Swift

الغناء

Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.

Geographic Range & Migration

Edible-nest Swiftlet

Found from the Andaman Islands east through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Produces edible nests used in bird's nest soup.

African Swift

Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. One of Africa's most common swift species.

حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Edible-nest Swiftlet

Least Concern

African Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

Edible-nest Swiftlet

الريش

Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale whitish-grey; forked tail; Southeast Asian species prized for white saliva nests used in bird's nest soup; plumage unremarkable but economically …

African Swift

الريش

Dark sooty-brown throughout; pale throat patch whitish-grey; underparts slightly paler; broadly similar to Common Swift but slightly larger and marginally paler below; widespread Sub-Saharan African species.

About These Birds

Edible-nest Swiftlet

A medium-sized swiftlet (12-13 cm) found from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through Southeast Asia to Indonesia and the Philippines. Dark plumage. Famous for building nests almost entirely of solidified saliva, the primary ingredient in bird's nest soup, a luxury food item in East Asia.

African Swift

A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) found across sub-Saharan Africa. Dark sooty-brown plumage, darker than Pallid Swift. Aerial insectivore, foraging high over varied habitats from forests to savannas. Breeds on cliffs and buildings. Resident or partial migrant within Africa.

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