African Swift vs Western Glossy Swiftlet

Apus barbatus so với Collocalia affinis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Thuộc Tính African Swift Western Glossy Swiftlet
Tên Khoa Học Apus barbatus Collocalia affinis
Bộ Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Họ Apodidae Apodidae
Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn Least Concern Not Evaluated
Chiều Dài
Chiều Dài Sải Cánh 34,2 cm (13.5 in)
Khối Lượng 42,666666666666664 g (1.51 oz) 8,65 g (0.31 oz)
Chế Độ Ăn Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … Aerial insectivore consuming minute dipterans, midges, and ballooning spiders caught in continuous fast flight.
Số Trứng 1-2 1-3
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Môi Trường Sống Chung

Không

African Swift only

Không

Western Glossy Swiftlet only

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.

Western Glossy Swiftlet

Tiếng Hót

High, thin 'tsit-tsit'; rapid chittering in flight; echolocation clicks used inside caves; tiny size produces very high-pitched thin calls; soft twittering over forest

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.

Western Glossy Swiftlet

Found from the Andaman Islands and northeastern India through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Resident in diverse forest habitats.

Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn

Least Concern

African Swift

Not Evaluated

Western Glossy Swiftlet

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.

Western Glossy Swiftlet

Bộ Lông

Tiny; glossy blue-black upperparts with green iridescence; underparts dark sooty-grey; white-buff rump band; deeply forked tail; recently split taxon similar to Philippine Glossy Swiftlet but with subtly different rump and …

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.

Western Glossy Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) found in lowland and hill forests of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Glossy blue-black upperparts with a paler rump. Aerial insectivore, feeding on tiny flying insects. Colonial nester in caves and buildings.

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