Palau Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus pelewensis compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Palau Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus pelewensis | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.5 cm (8.5 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 13.3 g (0.47 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 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Palau Swiftlet
Rapid thin twittering; high 'tsit' notes over Palau islands; audible echolocation clicks in cave and building roosts; endemic island species; calls weakly in small flocks
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Palau Swiftlet
Endemic to the Palau Islands in Micronesia. Resident on all major islands; nests in limestone caves. Small but stable population.
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
Palau Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Palau Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; Palau Island endemic; closely resembles Caroline Swiftlet but restricted to Palau and differing in subtle measurements.
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
Palau Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Palau archipelago in the western Pacific. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested limestone islands. Colonial cave nester. Population restricted to the Palau island chain. Classified as Near Threatened.
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.