African Black Swift vs Horus Swift

African Black Swift

Apus barbatus

Small43 gRocky

The African black swift is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long and bulky like a pallid swift; it appears entirely blackish-brown except for a small white or pale grey patch on the chin which is not visible from a distance. It has a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. This species is very similar to the common swift but can be distinguished under optimum viewing conditions by the contrast between its black back and paler secondary wing feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Alan Manson · CC BY 2.0

Horus Swift

Apus horus

Small27 gShrubland

The Horus swift is 13–15 cm (5.1–5.9 in) long and quite bulky. It appears entirely blackish except for a white patch on the chin and a white rump. It has a medium length forked tail. It has a fluttering flight like little swift. The little swift has a square tail, and more extensive white on the rump than Horus, and white-rumped swift has a more deeply forked tail and a narrower white band. The call is a buzzing peeeeooo, peeeeooo.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Black Swift and Horus Swift.