African Swift vs Fernando Po Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Apus sladeniae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Fernando Po Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Apus sladeniae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 35.4 cm (13.9 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 42.0 g (1.48 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial insectivore relying entirely on flying insects (midges, gnats, small beetles) and airborne spiders. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Song & Call Comparison
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Fernando Po Swift
Deep, resonant wingbeat audible alongside soft chips; quiet churring call barely distinguishable from surrounding ambient sounds.
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.
Fernando Po Swift
Found on Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea and adjacent Cameroon highlands. Restricted to mountain forests and highland areas.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Fernando Po 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.
Fernando Po Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale greyish throat and chin patch; underparts slightly paler; broadly similar to African Swift; data-deficient Bioko Island endemic; plumage details poorly documented from limited specimens.
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.
Fernando Po Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) found on the island of Bioko (formerly Fernando Po) in the Gulf of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. A poorly known, range-restricted species limited to the volcanic island. Very limited ecological data available.