Uniform Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus vanikorensis compared with Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Uniform Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus vanikorensis | Apus barbatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 10.4 g (0.37 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 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Uniform Swiftlet
Thin, high-pitched twittering; 'tsit-tsit' notes over Pacific islands; echolocation clicks inside caves; uniform dark plumage matched by simple unremarkable call quality
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Uniform Swiftlet
Found across Melanesia from the Moluccas and New Guinea east through the Solomons, Vanuatu, and Fiji. Resident in diverse habitats.
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
Uniform Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Uniform Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown plumage throughout with rump barely or not at all paler than back; underparts slightly paler grey-brown; forked tail; unusually for Aerodramus, has minimal rump contrast; widespread Melanesian …
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
Uniform Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) widespread from the Malay Peninsula through Indonesia to Melanesia. Dark uniform plumage with a slightly paler rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. One of the most taxonomically complex swiftlet species.
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.