Great Dusky Swift vs Madagascar Spinetail

Cypseloides senex مقارنةً بـ Zoonavena grandidieri

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Great Dusky Swift Madagascar Spinetail
الاسم العلمي Cypseloides senex Zoonavena grandidieri
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 33,8 cm (13.3 in) 24,9 cm (9.8 in)
الوزن 83,0 g (2.93 oz) 9,25 g (0.33 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

Madagascar Spinetail only

بلا

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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

Madagascar Spinetail

الغناء

Rapid, high-pitched chittering calls in flight; thin, insect-like trilling notes delivered in quick bursts above forest canopy.

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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.

Madagascar Spinetail

Endemic to Madagascar. Resident in forest edge and open areas across the island. Nests in hollow palms and rock crevices.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

Least Concern

Madagascar Spinetail

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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 …

Madagascar Spinetail

الريش

Tiny; dark brown-black upperparts; contrasting white rump patch; underparts pale whitish; short spiny tail; Malagasy endemic; white rump is the most diagnostic feature, recalling swiftlets but with characteristic spinetail tail …

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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.

Madagascar Spinetail

A medium-sized spinetail swift (12-13 cm) endemic to Madagascar. Dark plumage with a pale rump and short, spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest and woodland. Nests in tree hollows. Found throughout Madagascar's remaining forested areas.

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