African Swift vs Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Apus barbatus compared with Collocalia marginata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Philippine Glossy Swiftlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Collocalia marginata |
| 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) | 7.2 g (0.25 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Tiny aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; congregates where insects emerge over water. |
| 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.
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Very high thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' in flight; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; extremely small; call barely audible to human ear; rapid chittering over Philippine 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.
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Endemic to the Philippines, found on most major islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas up to 1,500 m elevation.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Philippine 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.
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Tiny; glossy greenish-black upperparts; white-buff rump patch; dark sooty underparts; deeply forked tail; endemic to Philippine islands; the blue-green iridescence on the back is more pronounced than in drabber Collocalia …
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.
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Glossy dark plumage with pale fringes on wing feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. Colonial nester in caves. Found across most major Philippine islands.