Cape Verde Swift vs African Palm Swift
Apus alexandri compared with Cypsiurus parvus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cape Verde Swift | African Palm Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus alexandri | Cypsiurus parvus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.5 cm (10.8 in) | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 39.4 g (1.39 oz) | 14.38 g (0.51 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. | 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
Cape Verde Swift only
None
African Palm Swift only
Song & Call Comparison
Cape Verde Swift
Soft, musical whistling with smooth melodic quality; clear, unhurried phrases rising and falling gently in warm afternoon air.
African Palm Swift
Deep, hollow churring trill with resonant bass quality; prolonged vibrating call audible at significant range in open woodland.
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.
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
Cape Verde Swift
African Palm 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 …
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
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.
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.