Pallid Swift vs Silver-rumped Spinetail
Apus pallidus compared with Rhaphidura leucopygialis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pallid Swift | Silver-rumped Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus pallidus | Rhaphidura leucopygialis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.4 cm (13.1 in) | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) |
| Weight | 42.25 g (1.49 oz) | 13.65 g (0.48 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. | Obligate aerial forager on small insects and airborne spiders; among the fastest-flying of all swift … |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | -- |
| 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.
Silver-rumped Spinetail
High, thin squeaking notes delivered at rapid pace; silvery twittering with brief pauses forming loose conversational chatter.
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.
Silver-rumped Spinetail
Found from Myanmar and the Thai-Malay Peninsula south through Sumatra and Borneo. Resident in lowland and hill forest. Uncommon.
Conservation Status
Pallid Swift
Silver-rumped Spinetail
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 …
Silver-rumped Spinetail
Small; dark blackish-brown upperparts; silvery-white rump band gleaming in flight; underparts pale whitish-grey; short spiny tail tips; Sundaic forest specialist; silvery rather than clean white rump distinguishes from White-rumped Spinetail.
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.
Silver-rumped Spinetail
A small spinetail swift (10-11 cm) found in lowland forests from the Malay Peninsula through Sumatra and Borneo. Dark plumage with a conspicuous silvery-white rump. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, often foraging in small flocks over forest canopy and rivers.