Great Dusky Swift vs Böhm's Spinetail
Cypseloides senex compared with Neafrapus boehmi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Dusky Swift | Böhm's Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cypseloides senex | Neafrapus boehmi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) | 24.0 cm (9.4 in) |
| Weight | 83.0 g (2.93 oz) | 16.225 g (0.57 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … | Aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; forages at speed over forest and open … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Great Dusky Swift
Loud, churring trill; harsher and louder than other Cypseloides; calls over Iguacu Falls and major Neotropical waterfalls; buzzy 'bzzzt-bzzzt' in aerial groups
Böhm's Spinetail
Soft, high twittering with delicate sibilant quality; rapid flutter of tiny notes almost insect-like in pitch and rhythm.
Geographic Range & Migration
Great Dusky Swift
Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.
Böhm's Spinetail
Found in Central and East Africa from Cameroon east to Tanzania and Mozambique. Resident in open forest; often associated with baobab trees.
Conservation Status
Great Dusky Swift
Böhm's Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
Great Dusky Swift
Very large; entirely dark sooty-brown with pale grey forehead and chin scaling; slightly paler underparts; broad wings; largest Cypseloides swift; South American waterfall specialist with dusky uniform plumage and imposing …
Böhm's Spinetail
Small; dark brown-black upperparts; white rump patch; pale whitish underparts; very short stubby tail with prominent spiny tips; East African savanna species; tiny bat-like fluttering flight aided by extremely short …
About These Birds
Great Dusky Swift
A large swift (18-20 cm) of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Dark sooty-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested gorges and waterfalls. Nests in large colonies behind waterfalls. The largest member of the genus Cypseloides.
Böhm's Spinetail
A small swift (9-10 cm) of miombo woodland and open savanna across eastern and southern Africa. Dark plumage with a white rump and belly. Short, spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore with distinctive fluttering, bat-like flight low over the treetops.