Little Swift vs African Palm Swift

Apus affinis comparé à Cypsiurus parvus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Little Swift African Palm Swift
Nom scientifique Apus affinis Cypsiurus parvus
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Apodidae Apodidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 25,3 cm (10.0 in) 27,2 cm (10.7 in)
Poids 25,0 g (0.88 oz) 14,38 g (0.51 oz)
Régime alimentaire Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km. Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
Taille de la couvée 1-3 1-3
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Little Swift only

Aucun(e)

African Palm Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Little Swift

Chant

Harsh, crackling chatter with emphatic rhythm; series of rough notes delivered at pace with occasional sharp screech.

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

Little Swift

Found across Africa and Asia from Senegal east to India and Sri Lanka, and southeast to Southeast Asia. Common in urban areas and open country.

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

Least Concern

Little Swift

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Little Swift

Plumage

Small; dark sooty-brown; large white rump patch; white throat; underparts dark; square-ended tail; widespread from Africa to Asia; the large square white rump patch and square tail distinguish it from …

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

Little Swift

A small swift (12-13 cm) widespread across the Old World tropics from Africa through Asia to Australasia. Dark plumage with a white rump and broad, square tail. Aerial insectivore. Commonly nests in colonies on buildings and bridges. One of the most familiar swifts in tropical towns.

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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