African Swift vs White-naped Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Streptoprocne semicollaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | White-naped Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Streptoprocne semicollaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 44.4 cm (17.5 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 175.0 g (6.17 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Exclusively aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and spiders drifting in aerial plankton at altitude. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 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.
White-naped Swift
Very loud screaming trill; deep, powerful 'shreee' from Mexico's largest swift; calls over cliffs and canyons; impressive volume; deeper than White-collared Swift
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.
White-naped Swift
Endemic to Mexico from Nayarit south to Oaxaca. Found in montane forest and canyons at 1,000–3,000 m. Nests behind waterfalls.
Conservation Status
African Swift
White-naped 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.
White-naped Swift
Very large; entirely black with white patch restricted to nape only, not forming a full collar; large square tail; Mexican endemic and the largest swift in Middle America; white nape …
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.
White-naped Swift
A large swift (20-22 cm) endemic to Mexico, found in montane regions from Nayarit to Guerrero. Dark plumage with a white half-collar on the nape. Aerial insectivore, foraging over pine-oak forests and barrancas. Nests in large cave colonies. Near Threatened due to limited range.