Volcano Swiftlet vs Black Spinetail
Aerodramus vulcanorum compared with Telacanthura melanopygia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Volcano Swiftlet | Black Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus vulcanorum | Telacanthura melanopygia |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.0 cm (9.4 in) | 32.4 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 14.4 g (0.51 oz) | 52.0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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
Black Spinetail
Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.
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.
Black Spinetail
Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.
Conservation Status
Volcano Swiftlet
Black Spinetail
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 …
Black Spinetail
Large; entirely black plumage with slight gloss; black rump unlike white-rumped congeners; underparts dark; spiny tail; West African forest species; all-black coloration with no contrasting markings distinguishes it from all …
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.
Black Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) of lowland rainforests in West and Central Africa. All-dark plumage. Spine-tipped tail for bracing against tree trunks. Aerial insectivore, foraging above the forest canopy. Nests inside hollow trees. Uncommon and seldom observed.