Philippine Swiftlet vs African Swift

Aerodramus mearnsi verglichen mit Apus barbatus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Philippine Swiftlet African Swift
Wissenschaftlicher Name Aerodramus mearnsi Apus barbatus
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Apodidae Apodidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 21,8 cm (8.6 in) 34,2 cm (13.5 in)
Gewicht 11,5 g (0.41 oz) 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz)
Ernährung Obligate aerial feeder on microscopic flying insects and spiders; highly social forager over tropical forest. Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or …
Gelegegröße 4 1-2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

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Philippine Swiftlet only

African Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Philippine Swiftlet

Gesang

High twittering trill; thin 'tsit-tsit' notes over Philippine mountains; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; calls softly; flock produces chattering at roost; unremarkable vocalizations

African Swift

Gesang

Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.

Geographic Range & Migration

Philippine Swiftlet

Endemic to the Philippines, found on Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas.

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.

Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

Philippine Swiftlet

Least Concern

African Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

Philippine Swiftlet

Gefieder

Small; dark grey-brown upperparts with faint gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts greyish-white; moderately forked tail; Philippine endemic using echolocation; echolocation ability distinguishes Aerodramus from Collocalia swiftlets.

African Swift

Gefieder

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.

About These Birds

Philippine Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Uses echolocation for navigating dark cave interiors. Found across the major Philippine island groups. Poorly studied ecology.

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.

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