Atiu Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus sawtelli compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Atiu Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus sawtelli | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 8.6 g (0.30 oz) | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Diet | Small aerial insectivore feeding on minute flying insects and spiders; forages over forest canopy and … | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Atiu Swiftlet
Very high thin twittering; 'tsit' calls over Cook Islands; audible echolocation clicks inside Atiu makatea caves; vulnerable endemic; vocal near cave entrances only
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Atiu Swiftlet
Endemic to Atiu Island in the southern Cook Islands. Resident on this single island; nests in limestone caves. Small and vulnerable 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
Atiu Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Atiu Swiftlet
Tiny; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale grey rump band; underparts whitish-grey; forked tail; Cook Islands endemic restricted to Atiu Island; extremely small range and vulnerable status; plumage similar to Polynesian Swiftlet.
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
Atiu Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10 cm) endemic to the island of Atiu in the Cook Islands of the South Pacific. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Nests in small caves and sinkholes (makatea) on the raised coral island. One of the most range-restricted swiftlets, with a tiny population.
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.