Cassin's Spinetail vs Black Spinetail
Neafrapus cassini compared with Telacanthura melanopygia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cassin's Spinetail | Black Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neafrapus cassini | Telacanthura melanopygia |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.2 cm (12.3 in) | 32.4 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 39.5 g (1.39 oz) | 52.0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Diet | Catches aerial plankton of small insects and spiders in fast sweeping flight; roosts in rock … | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cassin's Spinetail
Loud, penetrating screech followed by descending chatter; harsh staccato calls echoing through African forest understory.
Black Spinetail
Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cassin's Spinetail
Found in Central and East Africa from Cameroon east to Kenya and Tanzania. Resident in lowland rainforest and gallery forest.
Black Spinetail
Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.
Conservation Status
Cassin's Spinetail
Black Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
Cassin's Spinetail
Medium-large; dark blackish-brown upperparts; white rump patch; pale whitish underparts; very short stubby spinetail; Central African forest species; short rounded tail with spiny tips distinctive; larger and broader-winged than smaller …
Black Spinetail
Large; entirely black plumage with slight gloss; black rump unlike white-rumped congeners; underparts dark; spiny tail; West African forest species; all-black coloration with no contrasting markings distinguishes it from all …
About These Birds
Cassin's Spinetail
A medium-sized swift (13-14 cm) of lowland tropical forests from Sierra Leone to Uganda. Dark plumage with a white belly patch. Spine-tipped tail feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging in rapid, bat-like flight over the forest canopy. Colonial nester in hollow trees.
Black Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) of lowland rainforests in West and Central Africa. All-dark plumage. Spine-tipped tail for bracing against tree trunks. Aerial insectivore, foraging above the forest canopy. Nests inside hollow trees. Uncommon and seldom observed.