Common Swift vs African Swift
Apus apus comparé à Apus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Swift | African Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Apus apus | Apus barbatus |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 32,3 cm (12.7 in) | 34,2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Poids | 41,5 g (1.46 oz) | 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Aucun(e)
Common Swift only
African Swift only
Aucun(e)
Song & Call Comparison
Common Swift
Crisp, two-noted call: quick sharp chip followed by descending whistle; distinctive pattern repeated at measured intervals.
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Swift
Breeds across Europe and Asia from the British Isles east to Siberia and China. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Common Swift
African Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Swift
Uniformly blackish-brown above and below; pale whitish throat patch; slightly forked tail; no other pale markings; sexes identical; the archetypal swift shape with scythe-like wings; widespread Palearctic breeder and Sub-Saharan …
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
Common Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm, wingspan 42-48 cm) with dark blackish-brown plumage and a pale throat. One of the most aerial of all birds, spending nearly its entire life on the wing, sleeping, eating, and even mating in flight. Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
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.