Atiu Swiftlet vs African Palm Swift
Aerodramus sawtelli compared with Cypsiurus parvus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Atiu Swiftlet | African Palm Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus sawtelli | Cypsiurus parvus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 8.6 g (0.30 oz) | 14.38 g (0.51 oz) |
| Diet | Small aerial insectivore feeding on minute flying insects and spiders; forages over forest canopy and … | Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-3 |
| 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 Palm Swift
Deep, hollow churring trill with resonant bass quality; prolonged vibrating call audible at significant range in open woodland.
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 Palm Swift
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Somalia and south to South Africa. Common in open areas near palms; nests in palm leaves.
Conservation Status
Atiu Swiftlet
African Palm 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 Palm Swift
Slender and long-tailed; uniformly pale greyish-brown overall; underparts paler grey-buff; long deeply forked tail; pale uniform appearance with no contrasting markings; widespread African palm-nesting swift with distinctive slender silhouette.
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 Palm Swift
A slender swift (15-17 cm) with long, narrow wings and a deeply forked tail. Dark brown plumage. Found across sub-Saharan Africa in savanna and open woodland, closely associated with palm trees. Aerial insectivore. One of Africa's most abundant swift species.