Atiu Swiftlet vs African Swift

Aerodramus sawtelli verglichen mit Apus barbatus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Atiu Swiftlet African Swift
Wissenschaftlicher Name Aerodramus sawtelli Apus barbatus
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Apodidae Apodidae
Erhaltungsstatus Vulnerable Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 23,2 cm (9.1 in) 34,2 cm (13.5 in)
Gewicht 8,6 g (0.30 oz) 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz)
Ernährung Small aerial insectivore feeding on minute flying insects and spiders; forages over forest canopy and … Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or …
Gelegegröße 2 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

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Atiu Swiftlet only

African Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Atiu Swiftlet

Gesang

Very high thin twittering; 'tsit' calls over Cook Islands; audible echolocation clicks inside Atiu makatea caves; vulnerable endemic; vocal near cave entrances only

African Swift

Gesang

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

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Geographic Range & Migration

Atiu Swiftlet

Endemic to Atiu Island in the southern Cook Islands. Resident on this single island; nests in limestone caves. Small and vulnerable population.

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.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Vulnerable

Atiu Swiftlet

Least Concern

African Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Atiu Swiftlet

Gefieder

Tiny; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale grey rump band; underparts whitish-grey; forked tail; Cook Islands endemic restricted to Atiu Island; extremely small range and vulnerable status; plumage similar to Polynesian Swiftlet.

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.

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About These Birds

Atiu Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10 cm) endemic to the island of Atiu in the Cook Islands of the South Pacific. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Nests in small caves and sinkholes (makatea) on the raised coral island. One of the most range-restricted swiftlets, with a tiny population.

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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