African Swift vs Pacific Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Apus pacificus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Pacific Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Apus pacificus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 41.516666666666666 g (1.46 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Feeds aerially on tiny insects and spiders, often following weather fronts where aerial plankton concentrates. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
African Swift only
None
Pacific Swift only
Song & Call Comparison
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Pacific Swift
Thin, reedy trill with nasal overtone; soft chattering notes delivered continuously during rapid low-level flight over fields.
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.
Pacific Swift
Breeds from Siberia and Japan south to China and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Southeast Asia and Australia.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Pacific 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.
Pacific Swift
Dark blackish-brown upperparts; distinctive white rump patch contrasting with dark back; white throat patch; underparts dark with pale brown barring; deeply forked tail; white rump distinguishes it from Common Swift …
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.
Pacific Swift
A medium-sized swift (17-18 cm) found across eastern Asia from Siberia to Australia. Dark plumage with a white rump patch and deeply forked tail. Aerial insectivore. A long-distance migrant, breeding in Asia and wintering in Southeast Asia and Australasia.