Volcano Swiftlet vs African Palm Swift
Aerodramus vulcanorum compared with Cypsiurus parvus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Volcano Swiftlet | African Palm Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus vulcanorum | Cypsiurus parvus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.0 cm (9.4 in) | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 14.4 g (0.51 oz) | 14.38 g (0.51 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … | Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Volcano Swiftlet only
None
African Palm Swift only
Song & Call Comparison
Volcano Swiftlet
High twittering calls; thin 'tsit' notes over Javan volcanic mountains; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; slightly larger than many swiftlets; calls produce soft chattering
African Palm Swift
Deep, hollow churring trill with resonant bass quality; prolonged vibrating call audible at significant range in open woodland.
Geographic Range & Migration
Volcano Swiftlet
Endemic to the volcanoes of Java at 1,000–3,400 m. Resident in montane forest near active and dormant craters. Very restricted range.
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
Volcano Swiftlet
African Palm Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Volcano Swiftlet
Small; dark sooty-brown upperparts; grey-brown rump barely paler than back; underparts dark grey-brown; forked tail; restricted to Java's volcanoes; notably lacks a distinct pale rump band contrasting with the dark …
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
Volcano Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to highland volcanic areas of Java, Sumatra, and Bali, Indonesia. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over montane forests above 1,000 m. Colonial nester in volcanic caves. Closely related to Himalayan Swiftlet.
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.