African Swift vs Pygmy Swiftlet
Apus barbatus compared with Collocalia troglodytes
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Pygmy Swiftlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Collocalia troglodytes |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 18.6 cm (7.3 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 5.55 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Obligate aerial insectivore; catches minute flies, beetles, and aerial spiders while foraging near cave roosts. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| 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.
Pygmy Swiftlet
Extremely high, thin twittering; among highest-pitched calls of any bird; 'tseee-tseee' barely audible to adults; uses echolocation clicks in Philippine limestone caves
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.
Pygmy Swiftlet
Endemic to the Philippines, found on Mindanao and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland forest and coastal caves. One of the smallest swiftlets.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Pygmy Swiftlet
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.
Pygmy Swiftlet
Tiny; dark blue-black upperparts with faint iridescence; white or pale buff rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; slightly forked tail; one of the smallest swiftlets in the Philippines; cave-nesting with pale …
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.
Pygmy Swiftlet
The smallest swiftlet (9 cm), endemic to the Philippines. Dark grey-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging in small flocks over forest. Colonial cave nester. Despite being common, poorly studied due to the difficulty of distinguishing small, dark swiftlets in flight.