Little Swift vs African Swift
Apus affinis verglichen mit Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Little Swift | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Apus affinis | Apus barbatus |
| Ordnung | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familie | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 25,3 cm (10.0 in) | 34,2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Gewicht | 25,0 g (0.88 oz) | 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Ernährung | Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km. | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … |
| Gelegegröße | 1-3 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Little Swift
Harsh, crackling chatter with emphatic rhythm; series of rough notes delivered at pace with occasional sharp screech.
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Little Swift
Found across Africa and Asia from Senegal east to India and Sri Lanka, and southeast to Southeast Asia. Common in urban areas and open country.
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
Little Swift
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Little Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown; large white rump patch; white throat; underparts dark; square-ended tail; widespread from Africa to Asia; the large square white rump patch and square tail distinguish it from …
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.
About These Birds
Little Swift
A small swift (12-13 cm) widespread across the Old World tropics from Africa through Asia to Australasia. Dark plumage with a white rump and broad, square tail. Aerial insectivore. Commonly nests in colonies on buildings and bridges. One of the most familiar swifts in tropical towns.
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.