Satin Swiftlet vs African Palm Swift

Collocalia uropygialis verglichen mit Cypsiurus parvus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Satin Swiftlet African Palm Swift
Wissenschaftlicher Name Collocalia uropygialis Cypsiurus parvus
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Apodidae Apodidae
Erhaltungsstatus Not Evaluated Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 27,2 cm (10.7 in)
Gewicht 5,4 g (0.19 oz) 14,38 g (0.51 oz)
Ernährung Aerial insectivore catching tiny flying insects, midges, and airborne spiders in fast low-altitude flight near … Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
Gelegegröße 1-2 1-3
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

Satin Swiftlet only

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African Palm Swift only

Song & Call Comparison

Satin Swiftlet

Gesang

Very thin, high twittering; rapid 'chip' notes over Bismarck Archipelago islands; echolocation clicks inside cave roosts; tiny; call barely distinguishable from other small swiftlets

African Palm Swift

Gesang

Deep, hollow churring trill with resonant bass quality; prolonged vibrating call audible at significant range in open woodland.

Geographic Range & Migration

Satin Swiftlet

Found in the Moluccas and southwestern Pacific including New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Resident in lowland forest, forest edge, and open areas.

African Palm Swift

Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Somalia and south to South Africa. Common in open areas near palms; nests in palm leaves.

Erhaltungsstatus

Not Evaluated

Satin Swiftlet

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

Satin Swiftlet

Gefieder

Tiny; blackish upperparts with satiny blue-green gloss; white rump band; underparts dark sooty-grey; forked tail; Oceanian swiftlet with satin-like sheen on upperparts distinguishing it from duller relatives in the region.

African Palm Swift

Gefieder

Slender and long-tailed; uniformly pale greyish-brown overall; underparts paler grey-buff; long deeply forked tail; pale uniform appearance with no contrasting markings; widespread African palm-nesting swift with distinctive slender silhouette.

About These Birds

Satin Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) found in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands. Dark upperparts with a satiny sheen and pale underparts. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Recently split from Glossy Swiftlet based on genetic and vocal differences.

African Palm Swift

A slender swift (15-17 cm) with long, narrow wings and a deeply forked tail. Dark brown plumage. Found across sub-Saharan Africa in savanna and open woodland, closely associated with palm trees. Aerial insectivore. One of Africa's most abundant swift species.

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