African Swift vs Ashy-tailed Swift
Apus barbatus verglichen mit Chaetura andrei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | African Swift | Ashy-tailed Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Apus barbatus | Chaetura andrei |
| Ordnung | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familie | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 34,2 cm (13.5 in) | 22,3 cm (8.8 in) |
| Gewicht | 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 17,1 g (0.60 oz) |
| Ernährung | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. |
| Gelegegröße | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Song & Call Comparison
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Ashy-tailed Swift
Dry rattling chatter with sharp staccato onset; brief bursts of clicking notes followed by descending hissing 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.
Ashy-tailed Swift
Found in eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Partially migratory; moves north in austral winter. Lowland forest.
Erhaltungsstatus
African Swift
Ashy-tailed 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.
Ashy-tailed Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown overall; distinctly pale ashy-grey rump and tail contrasting with dark body; underparts dark grey-brown; ashy rump and tail the defining feature separating it from other South American …
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.
Ashy-tailed Swift
A small swift (11-12 cm) of lowland forests in Venezuela, the Guianas, and Trinidad, with a separate population in southeastern Brazil. Dark plumage with an ashy-grey rump and undertail. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore. Nests in hollow palms and chimneys.