African Palm Swift vs Silver-backed Needletail

Cypsiurus parvus 对比 Hirundapus cochinchinensis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

属性 African Palm Swift Silver-backed Needletail
学名 Cypsiurus parvus Hirundapus cochinchinensis
Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Apodidae Apodidae
保护状况 Least Concern Least Concern
体长
翼展 27.2 cm (10.7 in) 36.6 cm (14.4 in)
体重 14.38 g (0.51 oz) 85.97999999999999 g (3.03 oz)
食性 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 …
产卵数 1-3 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

共同栖息地

African Palm Swift only

Silver-backed Needletail only

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Song & Call Comparison

African Palm Swift

鸣唱

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

Silver-backed Needletail

鸣唱

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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保护状况

Least Concern

African Palm Swift

Least Concern

Silver-backed Needletail

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Palm Swift

羽毛

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

羽毛

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

银背针尾雨燕分布于东南亚,从印度东北部至中国南部和大巽他群岛。背部具银白色鞍形斑,飞行极为迅速。以飞行昆虫为食,常在高空飞行,栖息于热带低地至山地森林。部分种群具迁徙习性。

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