Great Dusky Swift vs Silver-backed Needletail

Cypseloides senex مقارنةً بـ Hirundapus cochinchinensis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Great Dusky Swift Silver-backed Needletail
الاسم العلمي Cypseloides senex Hirundapus cochinchinensis
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 33,8 cm (13.3 in) 36,6 cm (14.4 in)
الوزن 83,0 g (2.93 oz) 85,97999999999999 g (3.03 oz)
النظام الغذائي Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … Obligate aerial forager on small insects and airborne spiders; among the fastest-flying of all swift …
عدد البيض في الوضع 1-2 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Great Dusky Swift only

بلا

Silver-backed Needletail only

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Song & Call Comparison

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

Silver-backed Needletail

الغناء

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

Great Dusky Swift

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

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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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

Least Concern

Silver-backed Needletail

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How to Tell Them Apart

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 …

Silver-backed Needletail

الريش

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

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.

Silver-backed Needletail

A large needletail swift (19-20 cm) found in hill and montane forests from India through Southeast Asia. Dark plumage with a silver-grey back and white throat. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore with powerful, rapid flight. Resident and partial migrant.

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