African Swift vs Rothschild's Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Cypseloides rothschildi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Rothschild's Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Cypseloides rothschildi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 30.6 cm (12.0 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 43.0 g (1.52 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial insectivore feeding on swarms of small flies, winged ants, and tiny beetles during sustained … |
| 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.
Rothschild's Swift
Thin, buzzy twittering in flight; soft 'tsee-tsee' contact notes; calls over Andean waterfalls; quiet and unobtrusive vocally; high-pitched but weak; rarely heard
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.
Rothschild's Swift
Found in the Andes of northwestern Argentina and adjacent Bolivia at 1,500–3,000 m. Very poorly known; nests near waterfalls in humid forest.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Rothschild'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.
Rothschild's Swift
Blackish-brown overall with subtle pale scaling on throat and forehead; underparts slightly paler brownish; no contrasting white markings; robust-bodied Andean swift distinguished from Sooty Swift by faint pale throat scaling.
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.
Rothschild's Swift
A medium-sized swift (15-16 cm) found in montane forests of northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia at 1,000-3,000 m elevation. Dark sooty plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested valleys. Nests behind waterfalls. Uncommon and local; named after Walter Rothschild.