African Swift vs Forbes-Watson's Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Apus berliozi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Forbes-Watson's Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Apus berliozi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 43.166666666666664 g (1.52 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Obligate aerial feeder on small insects and arachnids; catches prey in a wide gape during … |
| 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.
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Rapid, buzzy chatter descending at end; rough staccato notes spilling quickly with emphatic final chip before silence.
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.
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Breeds in the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa from Somalia south to Tanzania. Partially migratory; range and taxonomy incompletely understood.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Forbes-Watson'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.
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall with pale buff throat patch; underparts slightly paler brown; Socotra Island and East African coast species; plumage similar to African Swift but slightly paler throat and restricted …
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.
Forbes-Watson's Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) found in arid coastal regions from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and northwestern Indian Ocean islands. Pale brown plumage with a large white throat patch. Aerial insectivore. Named after the German zoologist Rudolf Berlioz.