Indian Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus unicolor compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus unicolor | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.7 cm (8.9 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 11.0 g (0.39 oz) | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Diet | Tiny aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; congregates where insects emerge over water. | 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
Indian Swiftlet
Rapid, thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' calls over South Indian hills; audible echolocation clicks in cave roosts; colonial; calls softly in flight; noisy at roost entrances
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Swiftlet
Found in Sri Lanka and southwestern India. Resident in hills and lowlands, nesting in rock crevices on cliff faces up to 2,000 m elevation.
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
Indian Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Indian Swiftlet
Small; uniformly dark blackish-brown throughout with minimal gloss; rump barely paler than back or concolorous; underparts dark grey-brown; forked tail; South Indian and Sri Lankan endemic with exceptionally uniform dark …
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
Indian Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) found across the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Dark grey-brown plumage with slightly paler underparts. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forests, towns, and agricultural land. Colonial nester in caves and buildings. Uses simple echolocation clicks.
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.