Caroline Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus inquietus compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Caroline Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus inquietus | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.8 cm (9.0 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 11.0 g (0.39 oz) | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Caroline Swiftlet
Thin twittering calls; 'tsit-tsit' over Caroline Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; moderate-pitched for swiftlet; produces soft chattering at colonial nesting sites
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Caroline Swiftlet
Found across the Caroline Islands of Micronesia including Pohnpei and Chuuk. Resident in lowland forest and cave systems.
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
Caroline Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Caroline Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; Micronesian endemic from Caroline Islands; very similar to Palau Swiftlet but distributed on a distinct island group.
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
Caroline Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Caroline Islands of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae). Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial cave nester. Restricted to a few high volcanic islands in the western Pacific.
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.