Philippine Spinetail vs White-collared Swift

Mearnsia picina مقارنةً بـ Streptoprocne zonaris

Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Philippine Spinetail White-collared Swift
الاسم العلمي Mearnsia picina Streptoprocne zonaris
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Near Threatened Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 32,3 cm (12.7 in) 42,5 cm (16.7 in)
الوزن 11,5 g (0.41 oz) 106,45 g (3.75 oz)
النظام الغذائي Aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; forages at speed over forest and open … Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight.
عدد البيض في الوضع -- 2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Philippine Spinetail only

بلا

White-collared Swift only

بلا

Song & Call Comparison

Philippine Spinetail

الغناء

High-pitched, buzzy twittering; sharp 'tsit-tsit' in fast low-level flight over Philippine forest; calls rapidly in tight flocks; distinctive wing sound in fast aerial display

White-collared Swift

الغناء

Loud, screaming 'shreee-shreee'; powerful screeching trill; calls from large flocks over mountains; very audible; one of the loudest Neotropical swifts; alarm a harsh rattle

Geographic Range & Migration

Philippine Spinetail

Endemic to the Philippines, found on Mindanao and adjacent southern islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and edge. Uncommon.

White-collared Swift

Found from Mexico south through Central America to South America east of the Andes, reaching Bolivia and southern Brazil. Often in large flocks.

حالة الحفاظ

Near Threatened

Philippine Spinetail

Least Concern

White-collared Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

Philippine Spinetail

الريش

Tiny but long-winged; dark blackish-brown overall; pale grey-white throat and chin; short spiny tail projections visible at close range; Philippine endemic; small size contrasts with proportionally very long scythe-like wings.

White-collared Swift

الريش

Large; glossy blue-black plumage with bold broad white collar encircling entire neck; collar clean and complete; underparts black; large slightly forked tail; among the most recognisable Neotropical swifts due to …

About These Birds

Philippine Spinetail

A large spinetail swift (12-13 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Dark plumage with short, spine-tipped tail feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging over lowland and montane forest. Colonial nester in tree hollows and cliff crevices. Uncommon and poorly studied.

White-collared Swift

A very large swift (20-22 cm, wingspan 45-55 cm) with a bold white collar band, the largest New World swift. Found from Mexico to southern Brazil and the Caribbean. Aerial insectivore, foraging in large, noisy flocks over forests and cities. Nests behind waterfalls and in caves.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family