African Swift vs Tepui Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Streptoprocne phelpsi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Tepui Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Streptoprocne phelpsi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 22.240000000000002 g (0.78 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| 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.
Tepui Swift
Sharp, rapid twittering; thin screaming 'scree-scree'; calls over tepui summits in Venezuela; higher-pitched than White-collared Swift; small size reflected in thin notes
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.
Tepui Swift
Found in the tepui highlands of southern Venezuela and adjacent Guyana and Brazil above 1,000 m. Resident in Guiana Shield rocky outcrops.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Tepui 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.
Tepui Swift
Dark blackish-brown overall with no white collar; slightly paler brownish-grey chin; small and compact; confined to Venezuelan tepuis; lacks the diagnostic white or chestnut collar found in most Streptoprocne swifts.
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.
Tepui Swift
A medium-sized swift (15-16 cm) endemic to the tepui highlands of southern Venezuela and adjacent Guyana. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over tepui cliffs and forested valleys. Named after William Phelps. One of the least known Neotropical swifts.