Pallid Swift vs Asian Palm Swift
Apus pallidus compared with Cypsiurus balasiensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pallid Swift | Asian Palm Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus pallidus | Cypsiurus balasiensis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.4 cm (13.1 in) | 22.9 cm (9.0 in) |
| Weight | 42.25 g (1.49 oz) | 8.833333333333334 g (0.31 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Pallid Swift
Melodic, rolling trill with rich timbre; sustained musical phrase with slight variations on repeated delivery at dusk.
Asian Palm Swift
High, wavering whistle with slightly nasal quality; gently pulsed notes trembling upward, characteristic of evening flight calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Pallid Swift
Breeds in the Mediterranean and North Africa east to Pakistan. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia.
Asian Palm Swift
Found from India and Sri Lanka east through Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia. Common resident in open areas near palms.
Conservation Status
Pallid Swift
Asian Palm Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Pallid Swift
Medium-large; pale brownish-grey overall, distinctly paler than Common Swift; larger pale throat patch; wing coverts show pale scaly edges; Mediterranean and Middle Eastern species; pale sandy-brown tone separates it from …
Asian Palm Swift
Very slender; pale greyish-brown overall; paler below; extremely long deeply forked tail; tiny for a swift; South and Southeast Asian palm-nesting species; uniform pale brownish-grey coloration similar to African relative …
About These Birds
Pallid Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) similar to Common Swift but paler, sandy-brown overall with a larger white throat patch. Found across southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Aerial insectivore. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Asian Palm Swift
A slender swift (13 cm) widespread across South and Southeast Asia from India to the Philippines and Indonesia. Dark brown plumage with a deeply forked tail. Aerial insectivore, closely associated with palm trees, nesting on the underside of palm leaves. Abundant in tropical lowlands.