African Swift vs Chimney Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Chaetura pelagica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Chimney Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Chaetura pelagica |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 24.9 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 22.666666666666668 g (0.80 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2-7 |
| 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.
Chimney Swift
Rapid, liquid twittering with bright cheerful quality; chi-chi-chi staccato notes carrying well across open sky at dusk.
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.
Chimney Swift
Breeds in eastern North America from Canada south to Texas. Long-distance migrant wintering in the upper Amazon basin of Peru and Brazil.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Chimney 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.
Chimney Swift
Small; uniformly dark sooty-grey overall with slightly paler grey throat and chin; no contrasting rump patch; short spiny tail; sexes identical; North American chimney-nesting species famous for its swirling pre-roost …
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.
Chimney Swift
A medium-sized swift (12-15 cm) famous for roosting and nesting inside chimneys across eastern North America. Dark grey-brown plumage with a cigar-shaped body and short, spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore catching flying insects. Long-distance migrant wintering in northwestern South America.