African Swift vs White-fronted Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Cypseloides storeri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | White-fronted Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Cypseloides storeri |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 27.4 cm (10.8 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 39.25 g (1.38 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Obligate aerial insectivore; takes small flies, beetles, and aerial spiders in swooping fast-flight passes. |
| 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.
White-fronted Swift
Poorly known vocalizations; thin twittering presumed; calls over Mexican montane waterfalls; high-pitched soft chip notes; very rarely documented; data-deficient species
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.
White-fronted Swift
Endemic to western Mexico from Jalisco to Oaxaca. Resident in forested highlands near canyon streams at 1,000–2,500 m. Poorly known.
Conservation Status
African Swift
White-fronted 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.
White-fronted Swift
Blackish-brown throughout with a prominent white frontal patch on forehead and lores; no other pale markings; slightly paler brownish below; poorly known Mexican endemic known from very few specimens.
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.
White-fronted Swift
A medium-sized swift (14 cm) endemic to montane forests of western Mexico at 1,500-3,000 m elevation. Sooty-black plumage with a white forehead patch. Aerial insectivore feeding over forested mountainsides. One of the least known Neotropical swifts. Classified as Vulnerable.