African Swift vs Bradfield's Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Apus bradfieldi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Bradfield's Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Apus bradfieldi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 35.2 cm (13.9 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 44.25 g (1.56 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Entirely aerial insectivore consuming swarms of tiny flies, winged ants, and ballooning spiders on the … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Bradfield's Swift
Pure, whistled two-note phrase; first note high and sustained, second lower and brief, repeated every few seconds clearly.
Geographic Range & Migration
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.
Bradfield's Swift
Found in Namibia and adjacent parts of South Africa, Botswana, and Angola. Resident in rocky desert, escarpment cliffs, and semi-arid terrain.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Bradfield's Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Bradfield's Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale greyish throat patch; underparts slightly paler; large for an African Apus swift; Southern Africa dry-country specialist; slightly larger and greyer-toned than Pallid Swift with less pale …
About These Birds
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.
Bradfield's Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) found in arid rocky regions of southwestern Africa (Namibia, Angola, western South Africa). Pale sandy-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over arid gorges and escarpments. Named after R.D.M. Bradfield. A southern African near-endemic.