African Swift vs Plain Swift

Apus barbatus so với Apus unicolor

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Thuộc Tính African Swift Plain Swift
Tên Khoa Học Apus barbatus Apus unicolor
Bộ Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Họ Apodidae Apodidae
Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn Least Concern Least Concern
Chiều Dài
Chiều Dài Sải Cánh 34,2 cm (13.5 in) 29,9 cm (11.8 in)
Khối Lượng 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) 24,2 g (0.85 oz)
Chế Độ Ăn 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.
Số Trứng 1-2 2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Môi Trường Sống Chung

Không

African Swift only

Không

Plain Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

African Swift

Tiếng Hót

Sharp, piercing screech followed by rapid chatter; intense series of notes escalating in speed and volume before fading.

Plain Swift

Tiếng Hót

Harsh, grating scream with descending inflection; loud raspy calls carrying urgency, often given during colony disturbance.

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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.

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Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn

Least Concern

African Swift

Least Concern

Plain Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Swift

Bộ Lông

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

Bộ Lông

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 …

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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.

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