African Swift vs Western Glossy Swiftlet
Apus barbatus compared with Collocalia affinis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Western Glossy Swiftlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Collocalia affinis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | — |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 8.65 g (0.31 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial insectivore consuming minute dipterans, midges, and ballooning spiders caught in continuous fast flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-3 |
| 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.
Western Glossy Swiftlet
High, thin 'tsit-tsit'; rapid chittering in flight; echolocation clicks used inside caves; tiny size produces very high-pitched thin calls; soft twittering over forest
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.
Western Glossy Swiftlet
Found from the Andaman Islands and northeastern India through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Resident in diverse forest habitats.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Western Glossy Swiftlet
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.
Western Glossy Swiftlet
Tiny; glossy blue-black upperparts with green iridescence; underparts dark sooty-grey; white-buff rump band; deeply forked tail; recently split taxon similar to Philippine Glossy Swiftlet but with subtly different rump and …
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.
Western Glossy Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) found in lowland and hill forests of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Glossy blue-black upperparts with a paler rump. Aerial insectivore, feeding on tiny flying insects. Colonial nester in caves and buildings.