African Swift vs Böhm's Spinetail
Apus barbatus compared with Neafrapus boehmi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Böhm's Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Neafrapus boehmi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 24.0 cm (9.4 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 16.225 g (0.57 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; forages at speed over forest and open … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| 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.
Böhm's Spinetail
Soft, high twittering with delicate sibilant quality; rapid flutter of tiny notes almost insect-like in pitch and rhythm.
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.
Böhm's Spinetail
Found in Central and East Africa from Cameroon east to Tanzania and Mozambique. Resident in open forest; often associated with baobab trees.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Böhm's Spinetail
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.
Böhm's Spinetail
Small; dark brown-black upperparts; white rump patch; pale whitish underparts; very short stubby tail with prominent spiny tips; East African savanna species; tiny bat-like fluttering flight aided by extremely short …
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.
Böhm's Spinetail
A small swift (9-10 cm) of miombo woodland and open savanna across eastern and southern Africa. Dark plumage with a white rump and belly. Short, spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore with distinctive fluttering, bat-like flight low over the treetops.