Cape Verde Swift vs Black Spinetail
Apus alexandri comparado con Telacanthura melanopygia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Cape Verde Swift | Black Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Nombre científico | Apus alexandri | Telacanthura melanopygia |
| Orden | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familia | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Estado de conservación | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longitud | — | — |
| Envergadura | 27,5 cm (10.8 in) | 32,4 cm (12.8 in) |
| Peso | 39,4 g (1.39 oz) | 52,0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Dieta | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Tamaño de la puesta | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cape Verde Swift
Soft, musical whistling with smooth melodic quality; clear, unhurried phrases rising and falling gently in warm afternoon air.
Black Spinetail
Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cape Verde Swift
Endemic to the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic. Resident on several islands including São Vicente and Santo Antão.
Black Spinetail
Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.
Estado de conservación
Cape Verde Swift
Black Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
Cape Verde Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale grey-white throat patch; underparts slightly paler brown; moderately forked tail; Cape Verde Islands endemic; similar to Common Swift but slightly smaller with more extensive pale throat …
Black Spinetail
Large; entirely black plumage with slight gloss; black rump unlike white-rumped congeners; underparts dark; spiny tail; West African forest species; all-black coloration with no contrasting markings distinguishes it from all …
About These Birds
Cape Verde Swift
A medium-sized swift (13-14 cm) endemic to the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic. Dark plumage with a pale throat. Aerial insectivore, foraging over volcanic landscapes and towns. Resident population restricted to the archipelago. Closely related to Common Swift.
Black Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) of lowland rainforests in West and Central Africa. All-dark plumage. Spine-tipped tail for bracing against tree trunks. Aerial insectivore, foraging above the forest canopy. Nests inside hollow trees. Uncommon and seldom observed.