Papuan Swiftlet vs African Swift

Aerodramus papuensis verglichen mit Apus barbatus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Papuan Swiftlet African Swift
Wissenschaftlicher Name Aerodramus papuensis Apus barbatus
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Apodidae Apodidae
Erhaltungsstatus Data Deficient Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 26,5 cm (10.4 in) 34,2 cm (13.5 in)
Gewicht 20,4 g (0.72 oz) 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz)
Ernährung Feeds aerially on tiny flying insects and drifting spiders; often forages in mixed-species flocks over … Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or …
Gelegegröße -- 1-2
Population Trend

Song & Call Comparison

Papuan Swiftlet

Gesang

High thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' over New Guinea; echolocation clicks used in cave roosts; larger than many swiftlets; slightly deeper calls; data deficient in recordings

African Swift

Gesang

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

Geographic Range & Migration

Papuan Swiftlet

Found in lowland New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge. Little-known Papuan endemic.

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

Data Deficient

Papuan Swiftlet

Least Concern

African Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

Papuan Swiftlet

Gefieder

Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale grey rump band; underparts pale grey; forked tail; New Guinea swiftlet; large for the genus; data-deficient with limited specimens; rump band moderately contrasting with dark …

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

Papuan Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) found in lowland and hill forests of New Guinea. Dark plumage with a slightly pale rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Closely related to the Edible-nest Swiftlet. Limited published ecological data.

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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