Malagasy Palm Swift vs African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus gracilis comparado com Cypsiurus parvus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Malagasy Palm Swift African Palm Swift
Nome científico Cypsiurus gracilis Cypsiurus parvus
Ordem Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Família Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservação Least Concern Least Concern
Comprimento
Envergadura 24,8 cm (9.8 in) 27,2 cm (10.7 in)
Peso 12,0 g (0.42 oz) 14,38 g (0.51 oz)
Dieta Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
Tamanho da postura 1-3 1-3
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partilhados

Malagasy Palm Swift only

African Palm Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Malagasy Palm Swift

Canto

Sharp, emphatic chip followed by buzzy rattle; staccato delivery with rising inflection at end of each phrase sequence.

African Palm Swift

Canto

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

Malagasy Palm Swift

Found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Resident in open areas with palms and forest edge across Madagascar.

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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Estado de conservação

Least Concern

Malagasy Palm Swift

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Malagasy Palm Swift

Plumagem

Slender; pale grey-brown overall; underparts slightly paler; long deeply forked tail; Malagasy endemic; very similar to African Palm Swift in uniform pale brown coloration but slightly smaller and confined to …

African Palm Swift

Plumagem

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

Malagasy Palm Swift

A slender swift (15-16 cm) endemic to Madagascar. Dark brown plumage with a deeply forked tail. Closely related to African Palm Swift. Aerial insectivore, foraging over open country, towns, and along forest edges. Associated with Ravenala and other palms for nesting.

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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