Cape Verde Swift vs African Palm Swift

Apus alexandri comparé à Cypsiurus parvus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Cape Verde Swift African Palm Swift
Nom scientifique Apus alexandri Cypsiurus parvus
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Apodidae Apodidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 27,5 cm (10.8 in) 27,2 cm (10.7 in)
Poids 39,4 g (1.39 oz) 14,38 g (0.51 oz)
Régime alimentaire Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
Taille de la couvée 2 1-3
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

Cape Verde Swift only

Aucun(e)

African Palm Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Cape Verde Swift

Chant

Soft, musical whistling with smooth melodic quality; clear, unhurried phrases rising and falling gently in warm afternoon air.

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

Cape Verde Swift

Endemic to the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic. Resident on several islands including São Vicente and Santo Antão.

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

Cape Verde Swift

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Cape Verde Swift

Plumage

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 …

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

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.

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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