Satin Swiftlet vs African Palm Swift

Collocalia uropygialis مقارنةً بـ Cypsiurus parvus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Satin Swiftlet African Palm Swift
الاسم العلمي Collocalia uropygialis Cypsiurus parvus
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Not Evaluated Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 27,2 cm (10.7 in)
الوزن 5,4 g (0.19 oz) 14,38 g (0.51 oz)
النظام الغذائي Aerial insectivore catching tiny flying insects, midges, and airborne spiders in fast low-altitude flight near … Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
عدد البيض في الوضع 1-2 1-3
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Satin Swiftlet only

بلا

African Palm Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Satin Swiftlet

الغناء

Very thin, high twittering; rapid 'chip' notes over Bismarck Archipelago islands; echolocation clicks inside cave roosts; tiny; call barely distinguishable from other small swiftlets

African Palm Swift

الغناء

Deep, hollow churring trill with resonant bass quality; prolonged vibrating call audible at significant range in open woodland.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Satin Swiftlet

Found in the Moluccas and southwestern Pacific including New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Resident in lowland forest, forest edge, and open areas.

African Palm Swift

Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Somalia and south to South Africa. Common in open areas near palms; nests in palm leaves.

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حالة الحفاظ

Not Evaluated

Satin Swiftlet

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Satin Swiftlet

الريش

Tiny; blackish upperparts with satiny blue-green gloss; white rump band; underparts dark sooty-grey; forked tail; Oceanian swiftlet with satin-like sheen on upperparts distinguishing it from duller relatives in the region.

African Palm Swift

الريش

Slender and long-tailed; uniformly pale greyish-brown overall; underparts paler grey-buff; long deeply forked tail; pale uniform appearance with no contrasting markings; widespread African palm-nesting swift with distinctive slender silhouette.

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About These Birds

Satin Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) found in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands. Dark upperparts with a satiny sheen and pale underparts. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Recently split from Glossy Swiftlet based on genetic and vocal differences.

African Palm Swift

A slender swift (15-17 cm) with long, narrow wings and a deeply forked tail. Dark brown plumage. Found across sub-Saharan Africa in savanna and open woodland, closely associated with palm trees. Aerial insectivore. One of Africa's most abundant swift species.

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