Whitehead's Swiftlet vs African Swift
Aerodramus whiteheadi comparé à Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Whitehead's Swiftlet | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Aerodramus whiteheadi | Apus barbatus |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 27,2 cm (10.7 in) | 34,2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Poids | 14,0 g (0.49 oz) | 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial plankton feeder taking tiny midges, fungus gnats, and ballooning spiders in rapid coursing flights. | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … |
| Taille de la couvée | -- | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Whitehead's Swiftlet
Thin twittering; 'chip-chip' calls over Borneo highlands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; data deficient; calls poorly documented from remote Bornean montane habitat
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Whitehead's Swiftlet
Endemic to the highlands of Borneo at 800–3,000 m. Resident in montane forest on Mount Kinabalu and the Crocker Range.
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.
Statut de conservation
Whitehead's Swiftlet
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Whitehead's Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale grey-white; forked tail; Philippine endemic from Luzon; data-deficient species differing from Philippine Swiftlet mainly in habitat preference and island range.
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.
About These Birds
Whitehead's Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) endemic to the mountains of northern Luzon, Philippines. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore of montane forest canopy above 1,000 m. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Named after John Whitehead. Poorly known.
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.