African Swift vs Cassin's Spinetail
Apus barbatus comparé à Neafrapus cassini
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | African Swift | Cassin's Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Apus barbatus | Neafrapus cassini |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 34,2 cm (13.5 in) | 31,2 cm (12.3 in) |
| Poids | 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 39,5 g (1.39 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Catches aerial plankton of small insects and spiders in fast sweeping flight; roosts in rock … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
African Swift
Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.
Cassin's Spinetail
Loud, penetrating screech followed by descending chatter; harsh staccato calls echoing through African forest understory.
Geographic Range & Migration
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.
Cassin's Spinetail
Found in Central and East Africa from Cameroon east to Kenya and Tanzania. Resident in lowland rainforest and gallery forest.
Statut de conservation
African Swift
Cassin's Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Cassin's Spinetail
Medium-large; dark blackish-brown upperparts; white rump patch; pale whitish underparts; very short stubby spinetail; Central African forest species; short rounded tail with spiny tips distinctive; larger and broader-winged than smaller …
About These Birds
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.
Cassin's Spinetail
A medium-sized swift (13-14 cm) of lowland tropical forests from Sierra Leone to Uganda. Dark plumage with a white belly patch. Spine-tipped tail feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging in rapid, bat-like flight over the forest canopy. Colonial nester in hollow trees.