Mayr's Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus orientalis compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mayr's Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus orientalis | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 13.3 g (0.47 oz) | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds aerially on tiny flying insects and drifting spiders; often forages in mixed-species flocks over … | 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
Mayr's Swiftlet
Thin twittering calls; 'tsit-tsit' notes; echolocation clicks used in caves; data deficient species from Melanesia; poorly documented; calls indistinguishable from related species
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mayr's Swiftlet
Found in the mountains of New Guinea (Jayawijaya and Saruwaged ranges) at 1,500–3,400 m. Resident in montane forest. Poorly known.
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
Mayr's Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Mayr's Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts with slight gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts pale whitish-grey; forked tail; Eastern Melanesian swiftlet; closely resembles Uniform Swiftlet but differs in rump contrast and geographic …
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
Mayr's Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) found in New Guinea and adjacent islands. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Named after Ernst Mayr. Taxonomy has been revised repeatedly. Limited ecological data available.
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.