African Swift vs Philippine Glossy Swiftlet

Apus barbatus مقارنةً بـ Collocalia marginata

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة African Swift Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
الاسم العلمي Apus barbatus Collocalia marginata
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Not Evaluated
الطول
طول الجناح 34,2 cm (13.5 in)
الوزن 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) 7,2 g (0.25 oz)
النظام الغذائي Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … Tiny aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; congregates where insects emerge over water.
عدد البيض في الوضع 1-2 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

African Swift only

بلا

Philippine Glossy Swiftlet only

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Song & Call Comparison

African Swift

الغناء

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

Philippine Glossy Swiftlet

الغناء

Very high thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' in flight; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; extremely small; call barely audible to human ear; rapid chittering over Philippine forest

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Geographic Range & Migration

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.

Philippine Glossy Swiftlet

Endemic to the Philippines, found on most major islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas up to 1,500 m elevation.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

African Swift

Not Evaluated

Philippine Glossy Swiftlet

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How to Tell Them Apart

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.

Philippine Glossy Swiftlet

الريش

Tiny; glossy greenish-black upperparts; white-buff rump patch; dark sooty underparts; deeply forked tail; endemic to Philippine islands; the blue-green iridescence on the back is more pronounced than in drabber Collocalia …

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About These Birds

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.

Philippine Glossy Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Glossy dark plumage with pale fringes on wing feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. Colonial nester in caves. Found across most major Philippine islands.

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