Polynesian Swiftlet vs Great Dusky Swift

Aerodramus leucophaeus مقارنةً بـ Cypseloides senex

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Polynesian Swiftlet Great Dusky Swift
الاسم العلمي Aerodramus leucophaeus Cypseloides senex
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 23,7 cm (9.3 in) 33,8 cm (13.3 in)
الوزن 13,4 g (0.47 oz) 83,0 g (2.93 oz)
النظام الغذائي Aerial insectivore catching tiny flying insects, midges, and airborne spiders in fast low-altitude flight near … Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial …
عدد البيض في الوضع 2 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Polynesian Swiftlet only

بلا

Great Dusky Swift only

بلا

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Song & Call Comparison

Polynesian Swiftlet

الغناء

High twittering; thin 'chip-chip' over French Polynesian islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; light-colored underparts distinguish it visually; calls unremarkable

Great Dusky Swift

الغناء

Loud, churring trill; harsher and louder than other Cypseloides; calls over Iguacu Falls and major Neotropical waterfalls; buzzy 'bzzzt-bzzzt' in aerial groups

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Geographic Range & Migration

Polynesian Swiftlet

Found across French Polynesia including the Society Islands, Marquesas, and Tuamotu. Resident in forest and open areas; nests in sea caves.

Great Dusky Swift

Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Polynesian Swiftlet

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Polynesian Swiftlet

الريش

Small; dark brown-grey upperparts with minimal gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts whitish-grey; forked tail; East Polynesian endemic from Society Islands; slightly more uniformly dark than some Pacific congeners.

Great Dusky Swift

الريش

Very large; entirely dark sooty-brown with pale grey forehead and chin scaling; slightly paler underparts; broad wings; largest Cypseloides swift; South American waterfall specialist with dusky uniform plumage and imposing …

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About These Birds

Polynesian Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) found across French Polynesia, including the Society, Marquesas, and Austral Islands. Dark grey plumage with whitish underparts. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Population fragmented across widely scattered Pacific islands.

Great Dusky Swift

A large swift (18-20 cm) of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Dark sooty-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested gorges and waterfalls. Nests in large colonies behind waterfalls. The largest member of the genus Cypseloides.

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