Moluccan Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus infuscatus compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Moluccan Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus infuscatus | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.2 cm (8.3 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 15.25 g (0.54 oz) | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial plankton specialist catching tiny flies, gnats, and airborne spiders in tight acrobatic flight. | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Moluccan Swiftlet
Thin twittering; soft 'chip-chip' calls over Maluku islands; echolocation clicks in caves; moderate-pitched for swiftlet; colonial roosts noisy with overlapping calls
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Moluccan Swiftlet
Found on the Moluccan islands of Indonesia including Halmahera, Seram, and Ambon. Resident in forest and open habitats. Moluccan endemic.
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
Moluccan Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Moluccan Swiftlet
Small to medium; dark brown-grey upperparts with pale buff rump band; underparts pale whitish-grey; forked tail; North Moluccan endemic; slightly larger than many congeners with relatively prominent pale rump contrasting …
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
Moluccan Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11 cm) found in the Moluccan Islands of Indonesia. Dark brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Taxonomy has been revised several times; limited published ecological data.
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.