African Swift vs Black Swift

Apus barbatus so với Cypseloides niger

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Thuộc Tính African Swift Black Swift
Tên Khoa Học Apus barbatus Cypseloides niger
Bộ Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Họ Apodidae Apodidae
Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn Least Concern Vulnerable
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) 41,55 g (1.47 oz)
Chế Độ Ăn Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km.
Số Trứng 1-2 1
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Môi Trường Sống Chung

Không

African Swift only

Không

Black 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.

Black Swift

Tiếng Hót

Soft, buzzy chittering 'spee-spee'; thin twittering over mountain waterfalls; higher and softer than Common Swift; small flocks call weakly over nesting cliffs

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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.

Black Swift

Breeds in western North America from Alaska south to California and the Caribbean. Migrates to winter in Mexico and Central America.

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Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn

Least Concern

African Swift

Vulnerable

Black 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.

Black Swift

Bộ Lông

Entirely black with slight glossy sheen; faint pale scaling on forehead and chin in fresh plumage; broad-winged and large-bodied; slightly forked tail; sexes alike; North American cliff-nesting swift with wholly …

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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.

Black Swift

A large swift (15-18 cm, wingspan 38 cm) with all-dark plumage and a slightly forked tail. Breeds on sea cliffs and behind waterfalls across western North America and the Caribbean. Aerial insectivore, foraging high over mountains and valleys. A long-distance migrant wintering in South America.

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