Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift vs Black Spinetail
Panyptila cayennensis compared with Telacanthura melanopygia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift | Black Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Panyptila cayennensis | Telacanthura melanopygia |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.8 cm (9.4 in) | 32.4 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) | 52.0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore feeding on swarms of small flies, winged ants, and tiny beetles during sustained … | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Dry, clicking chatter interspersed with thin whistles; rapid mechanical trill delivered with persistent energy throughout day.
Black Spinetail
Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Found from Mexico south through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in lowland and foothill forest edge.
Black Spinetail
Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.
Conservation Status
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Black Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Black upperparts; white throat and white flanks; white rump patch; deeply forked long tail; smaller version of Great Swallow-tailed Swift; widespread from Mexico to South America; forked tail and bold …
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
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
A medium-sized swift (13-14 cm) with a moderately forked tail and white throat patch. Found from southern Mexico through Central America to Peru and Brazil. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. Nests under overhanging cliffs and bridges.
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.