African Swift vs Band-rumped Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Chaetura spinicaudus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Band-rumped Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Chaetura spinicaudus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 20.7 cm (8.1 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 16.4 g (0.58 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| 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.
Band-rumped Swift
Raspy, churring call with hollow resonance; rough bursts of chattering notes interrupted by brief mechanical clicking 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.
Band-rumped Swift
Found in Panama and northwestern South America from Colombia east to Venezuela and the Guianas, south to Brazil and Bolivia. Lowland forest.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Band-rumped 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.
Band-rumped Swift
Small; sooty-brown overall with narrow pale grey-white rump band forming a distinct narrow transverse stripe; underparts dark grey-brown; short spiny tail; Amazonian species distinguished by the band-like narrow rump patch.
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.
Band-rumped Swift
A small swift (11 cm) of lowland forests from Costa Rica to Brazil. Dark plumage with a conspicuous pale rump band. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging in flocks over forest canopy. Often seen near rivers and forest edges. Nests in hollow trees.