Cape Verde Swift vs Pallid Swift
Apus alexandri comparé à Apus pallidus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Cape Verde Swift | Pallid Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Apus alexandri | Apus pallidus |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 27,5 cm (10.8 in) | 33,4 cm (13.1 in) |
| Poids | 39,4 g (1.39 oz) | 42,25 g (1.49 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. |
| Taille de la couvée | 2 | 1-4 |
| 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.
Pallid Swift
Melodic, rolling trill with rich timbre; sustained musical phrase with slight variations on repeated delivery at dusk.
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.
Pallid Swift
Breeds in the Mediterranean and North Africa east to Pakistan. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia.
Statut de conservation
Cape Verde Swift
Pallid Swift
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 …
Pallid Swift
Medium-large; pale brownish-grey overall, distinctly paler than Common Swift; larger pale throat patch; wing coverts show pale scaly edges; Mediterranean and Middle Eastern species; pale sandy-brown tone separates it from …
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.
Pallid Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) similar to Common Swift but paler, sandy-brown overall with a larger white throat patch. Found across southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Aerial insectivore. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.