African Swift vs Band-rumped Swift

Apus barbatus comparado con Chaetura spinicaudus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo African Swift Band-rumped Swift
Nombre científico Apus barbatus Chaetura spinicaudus
Orden Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familia Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 34,2 cm (13.5 in) 20,7 cm (8.1 in)
Peso 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) 16,4 g (0.58 oz)
Dieta Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial …
Tamaño de la puesta 1-2 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Ninguno

African Swift only

Ninguno

Band-rumped Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

African Swift

Canto

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

Band-rumped Swift

Canto

Raspy, churring call with hollow resonance; rough bursts of chattering notes interrupted by brief mechanical clicking sounds.

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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.

Band-rumped Swift

Found in Panama and northwestern South America from Colombia east to Venezuela and the Guianas, south to Brazil and Bolivia. Lowland forest.

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Estado de conservación

Least Concern

African Swift

Least Concern

Band-rumped Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Swift

Plumaje

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.

Band-rumped Swift

Plumaje

Small; sooty-brown overall with narrow pale grey-white rump band forming a distinct narrow transverse stripe; underparts dark grey-brown; short spiny tail; Amazonian species distinguished by the band-like narrow rump patch.

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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.

Band-rumped Swift

Vencejo de cola espinosa (Chaetura spinicaudus), 10–11 cm. Plumaje gris oscuro; lomo y rabadilla con tinte rufo. Cola con puntas de plumas espinosas. Habita en América del Sur tropical. Gregario; forrajea en vuelo sobre dosel de selva. Nidifica en palmeras y árboles huecos.

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