African Swift vs White-rumped Spinetail
Apus barbatus compared with Zoonavena sylvatica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | White-rumped Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Zoonavena sylvatica |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 22.1 cm (8.7 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 13.0 g (0.46 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Catches aerial plankton of small insects and spiders in fast sweeping flight; roosts in rock … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 3-5 |
| 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-rumped Spinetail
Shrill, reedy twittering calls; thin whistled notes cascading rapidly in flight, carrying a faint metallic quality overhead.
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-rumped Spinetail
Found in southwestern India (Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka. Resident in humid forest and forest edge in hills up to 1,800 m.
Conservation Status
African Swift
White-rumped 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.
White-rumped Spinetail
Small; dark brown-black upperparts; bright white rump band strongly contrasting with dark back; underparts pale whitish; short spiny tail; South Asian forest species; white rump conspicuous in flight distinguishing it …
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-rumped Spinetail
A small spinetail swift (10-11 cm) found in foothill and montane forests of the Indian subcontinent, from the Himalayas to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Dark plumage with a white rump band and spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore. Nests behind waterfalls and in caves.