Marquesas Swiftlet vs African Palm Swift

Aerodramus ocistus comparé à Cypsiurus parvus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Marquesas Swiftlet African Palm Swift
Nom scientifique Aerodramus ocistus Cypsiurus parvus
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Apodidae Apodidae
Statut de conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 27,2 cm (10.7 in)
Poids 9,5 g (0.34 oz) 14,38 g (0.51 oz)
Régime alimentaire Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
Taille de la couvée 1 1-3
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Marquesas Swiftlet only

Aucun(e)

African Palm Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Marquesas Swiftlet

Chant

High thin twittering; 'chip-chip' over Marquesas Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; poorly documented; thin high-pitched calls typical of small Pacific swiftlets

African Palm Swift

Chant

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

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Geographic Range & Migration

Marquesas Swiftlet

Endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Resident on major islands including Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. Nests in sea caves.

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.

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Statut de conservation

Not Evaluated

Marquesas Swiftlet

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Marquesas Swiftlet

Plumage

Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale grey-white; forked tail; Marquesas Islands endemic in French Polynesia; closely related to Polynesian Swiftlet but isolated on its own archipelago.

African Palm Swift

Plumage

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.

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About These Birds

Marquesas Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Population restricted to a few volcanic islands in the central Pacific. Classified as Endangered due to extremely limited range.

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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