Cape Verde Swift vs White-chested Swift
Apus alexandri compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cape Verde Swift | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus alexandri | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.5 cm (10.8 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 39.4 g (1.39 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cape Verde Swift
Soft, musical whistling with smooth melodic quality; clear, unhurried phrases rising and falling gently in warm afternoon air.
White-chested Swift
High, thin twittering; soft 'tsit' calls in flight; calls over Colombian waterfalls; very poorly known; thin, reedy contact notes; one of most rarely documented swifts
Geographic Range & Migration
Cape Verde Swift
Endemic to the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic. Resident on several islands including São Vicente and Santo Antão.
White-chested Swift
Known from Colombia and adjacent Ecuador. One of the world's rarest swifts; recorded at waterfalls in humid forest foothills at 500–1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Cape Verde Swift
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Cape Verde Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale grey-white throat patch; underparts slightly paler brown; moderately forked tail; Cape Verde Islands endemic; similar to Common Swift but slightly smaller with more extensive pale throat …
White-chested Swift
Black upperparts and wings; distinctive large white chest patch contrasting sharply with black throat and belly; white confined to central breast; Colombian endemic with unique bold bicoloured plumage unlike any …
About These Birds
Cape Verde Swift
A medium-sized swift (13-14 cm) endemic to the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic. Dark plumage with a pale throat. Aerial insectivore, foraging over volcanic landscapes and towns. Resident population restricted to the archipelago. Closely related to Common Swift.
White-chested Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) endemic to the upper Cauca Valley of Colombia. Sooty-black plumage with a white breast patch. Aerial insectivore of subtropical forests. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.