Cassin’s Spinetail

Neafrapus cassini

Cassin's Spinetail (Neafrapus cassini) — Swifts of Africa.

The Cassin’s Spinetail (Neafrapus cassini) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 40 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae Swifts
Genus Neafrapus
Species cassini

Where it lives

Ivory Coast to western Uganda, DR Congo and Gabon

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 40 g
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Apodidae
Order: Apodiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Cassin’s Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Cassin’s Spinetail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Cassin’s Spinetail (Neafrapus cassini) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ivory Coast to w Uganda, DR Congo and Gabon.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 40 g, with a wing length of about 15.6 cm and a tail of around 2.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.1 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Cassin’s Spinetail?

The Cassin’s Spinetail is a small bird that weighs around 40 g.

Where does the Cassin’s Spinetail live?

The Cassin’s Spinetail is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ivory Coast to w Uganda, DR Congo and Gabon, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Cassin’s Spinetail belong to?

The Cassin’s Spinetail (Neafrapus cassini) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.

What does the Cassin’s Spinetail eat?

The Cassin’s Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Cassin’s Spinetail migrate?

The Cassin’s Spinetail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Cassin’s Spinetail endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

How large is the Cassin’s Spinetail's range?

The Cassin’s Spinetail has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².