African Palm Swift vs Silver-backed Needletail

Cypsiurus parvus comparado com Hirundapus cochinchinensis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo African Palm Swift Silver-backed Needletail
Nome científico Cypsiurus parvus Hirundapus cochinchinensis
Ordem Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Família Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservação Least Concern Least Concern
Comprimento
Envergadura 27,2 cm (10.7 in) 36,6 cm (14.4 in)
Peso 14,38 g (0.51 oz) 85,97999999999999 g (3.03 oz)
Dieta Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km. Obligate aerial forager on small insects and airborne spiders; among the fastest-flying of all swift …
Tamanho da postura 1-3 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partilhados

African Palm Swift only

Silver-backed Needletail only

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Song & Call Comparison

African Palm Swift

Canto

Deep, hollow churring trill with resonant bass quality; prolonged vibrating call audible at significant range in open woodland.

Silver-backed Needletail

Canto

Dry, rattling trill with softer ending; rapid series of clipped notes dropping slightly in pitch as the bird gains speed.

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Geographic Range & Migration

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.

Silver-backed Needletail

Found from northeastern India and China through Southeast Asia to the Greater Sundas. Partially migratory; winters south in forest and open areas.

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Estado de conservação

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

Least Concern

Silver-backed Needletail

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How to Tell Them Apart

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.

Silver-backed Needletail

Plumagem

Large; blackish-brown body; distinctive large silvery-white back patch between wings; white throat and undertail coverts; short spiny tail; Southeast Asian species closely resembling White-throated Needletail but silvery-white saddle more extensive.

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About These Birds

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.

Silver-backed Needletail

O andorinhão-de-agulha-de-garganta-prateada é um andorinhão médio do sul e sudeste asiático. Tem plumagem escura com a garganta branca característica. Captura insetos em voo sobre os dosséis florestais. Habita em florestas e orlas de floresta. Migra entre os locais de cria e de invernagem. Como outros andorinhões, passa a maior parte da sua vida em voo.

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