Mariana Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus bartschi compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mariana Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus bartschi | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 17.7 cm (7.0 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely airborne insectivore; feeds on minute flying insects and web-dispersing spiders over open habitats. | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Mariana Swiftlet
Very high, thin twittering; tiny and high-pitched; 'tsit-tsit' over Guam and Saipan; audible echolocation clicks in cave roosts; endangered; vocal mainly near nesting caves
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mariana Swiftlet
Endemic to the Mariana Islands (Guam, Saipan, and adjacent islands). Resident in forested areas; nests in limestone caves. Endangered on Guam.
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.
Conservation Status
Mariana Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Mariana Swiftlet
Tiny; dark brownish-black upperparts; pale grey-buff rump band; underparts pale whitish-grey; forked tail; Mariana Islands endemic and vulnerable; very small for the genus with concolorous brownish tone and subdued rump …
African Swift
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
Mariana Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Mariana Islands of the western Pacific (Guam, Saipan, Rota, Tinian). Dark brown plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Population severely declined on Guam due to the brown tree snake.
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.