African Swift vs Plain Swift
Apus barbatus comparado com Apus unicolor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | African Swift | Plain Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Apus barbatus | Apus unicolor |
| Ordem | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Família | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | — | — |
| Envergadura | 34,2 cm (13.5 in) | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Peso | 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) | 24,2 g (0.85 oz) |
| Dieta | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Exclusively aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and spiders drifting in aerial plankton at altitude. |
| Tamanho da postura | 1-2 | 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.
Plain Swift
Harsh, grating scream with descending inflection; loud raspy calls carrying urgency, often given during colony disturbance.
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.
Plain Swift
Breeds on the Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands. Resident on these Macaronesian archipelagos. Closely related to Common Swift.
Estado de conservação
African Swift
Plain Swift
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.
Plain Swift
Dark sooty-brown plumage; very faint pale chin; no distinct throat patch; entirely plain and uniform; smaller than Common Swift; Macaronesian endemic breeding in Canary Islands and Madeira; coloration slightly paler …
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.
Plain Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) endemic to the Macaronesian islands of Madeira and the Canaries. Dark brown plumage, slightly paler than Common Swift. Aerial insectivore. Resident population on the islands. Closely related to Common Swift but lacks the pale throat patch.