African Swift vs Pygmy Palm Swift
Apus barbatus compared with Tachornis furcata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Swift | Pygmy Palm Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus barbatus | Tachornis furcata |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 17.8 cm (7.0 in) |
| Weight | 42.666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 6.75 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial-only diet of small flying insects, winged termites, and drifting spiders caught during continuous flight. |
| 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.
Pygmy Palm Swift
Tiny, buzzy chips barely audible beyond two metres; minute high-pitched twittering almost disappearing in ambient sound.
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.
Pygmy Palm Swift
Found in Venezuela and adjacent Colombia and Guyana. Resident in lowland savanna near Moriche palms; nests inside palm fronds. Uncommon.
Conservation Status
African Swift
Pygmy Palm 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.
Pygmy Palm Swift
Tiny, among the world's smallest swifts; dark brown-black overall; pale buff-white rump patch; underparts pale whitish with dark sides; deeply forked tail; Venezuelan and Colombian palm-nesting species; minute size 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.
Pygmy Palm Swift
A tiny swift (9-10 cm) of open savannas and palm groves in Colombia and Venezuela. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Long, forked tail. Aerial insectivore associated with Moriche palms (Mauritia flexuosa), nesting inside palm fronds. One of the smallest swifts.