African Swift vs Waterfall Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Hydrochous gigas
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Waterfall Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Hydrochous gigas |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 29.2 cm (11.5 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 38.540000000000006 g (1.36 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Obligate aerial forager; feeds entirely on the wing on small flying insects, midges, and airborne … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| 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.
Waterfall Swift
Rapid, high-pitched twittering; sharp 'tsit-tsit' calls over Southeast Asian waterfalls; thin metallic notes; nest behind waterfalls; calls audible over roaring water
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.
Waterfall Swift
Found from southern Thailand through the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo. Restricted to rivers near waterfalls. Scarce.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Waterfall 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.
Waterfall Swift
Blackish-brown upperparts with slight gloss; grey-brown underparts paler than back; pale grey-white chin and throat; no rump patch; robust-bodied and large; Southeast Asian waterfall specialist with uniformly dark plumage and …
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.
Waterfall Swift
A large swift (16-17 cm) endemic to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested rivers and near waterfalls. Nests behind large waterfalls, where the name derives. One of the least known Asian swifts.