Pacific Swift vs Black Spinetail

Apus pacificus comparé à Telacanthura melanopygia

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Pacific Swift Black Spinetail
Nom scientifique Apus pacificus Telacanthura melanopygia
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Apodidae Apodidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 34,6 cm (13.6 in) 32,4 cm (12.8 in)
Poids 41,516666666666666 g (1.46 oz) 52,0 g (1.83 oz)
Régime alimentaire Feeds aerially on tiny insects and spiders, often following weather fronts where aerial plankton concentrates. High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight.
Taille de la couvée 1-3 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Pacific Swift only

Black Spinetail only

Aucun(e)

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Song & Call Comparison

Pacific Swift

Chant

Thin, reedy trill with nasal overtone; soft chattering notes delivered continuously during rapid low-level flight over fields.

Black Spinetail

Chant

Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Pacific Swift

Breeds from Siberia and Japan south to China and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Black Spinetail

Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Pacific Swift

Least Concern

Black Spinetail

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How to Tell Them Apart

Pacific Swift

Plumage

Dark blackish-brown upperparts; distinctive white rump patch contrasting with dark back; white throat patch; underparts dark with pale brown barring; deeply forked tail; white rump distinguishes it from Common Swift …

Black Spinetail

Plumage

Large; entirely black plumage with slight gloss; black rump unlike white-rumped congeners; underparts dark; spiny tail; West African forest species; all-black coloration with no contrasting markings distinguishes it from all …

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About These Birds

Pacific Swift

A medium-sized swift (17-18 cm) found across eastern Asia from Siberia to Australia. Dark plumage with a white rump patch and deeply forked tail. Aerial insectivore. A long-distance migrant, breeding in Asia and wintering in Southeast Asia and Australasia.

Black Spinetail

A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) of lowland rainforests in West and Central Africa. All-dark plumage. Spine-tipped tail for bracing against tree trunks. Aerial insectivore, foraging above the forest canopy. Nests inside hollow trees. Uncommon and seldom observed.

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