Himalayan Swiftlet vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Aerodramus brevirostris compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Himalayan Swiftlet | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus brevirostris | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.6 cm (9.7 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 12.65 g (0.45 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | Small aerial insectivore feeding on minute flying insects and spiders; forages over forest canopy and … | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Himalayan Swiftlet
Thin twittering calls; 'chip-chip' over Himalayan valleys; audible echolocation clicks in caves; moderate-pitched; colonial roosts produce chattering; calls in swift flocks at dusk
Chestnut-collared Swift
High, screaming trill; rapid 'scree-scree' in flight; shrill and penetrating; calls over Neotropical mountains and canyon edges; alarm a rapid screeching chatter
Geographic Range & Migration
Himalayan Swiftlet
Breeds in the Himalayas from India to southern China and Indochina. Partially migratory, wintering south to peninsular India and Southeast Asia.
Chestnut-collared Swift
Found from Mexico and the Caribbean south through Central America and South America to Argentina. Resident in highlands near mountain cliffs.
Conservation Status
Himalayan Swiftlet
Chestnut-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Himalayan Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts with faint gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts whitish-grey; forked tail; Himalayan and Southeast Asian highlands species; slightly browner than Black-nest Swiftlet with proportionally narrower rump …
Chestnut-collared Swift
Dark blackish-brown body with diagnostic rich chestnut collar encircling entire neck; collar bold and complete; underparts slightly paler brown; small swift with striking warm-toned neck band contrasting vividly with dark …
About These Birds
Himalayan Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (13-14 cm) found along the Himalayan foothills from Nepal through Southeast Asia to Indochina. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested valleys. Colonial cave nester. The largest member of the echolocating swiftlet genus.
Chestnut-collared Swift
A small swift (13-14 cm) found from Mexico through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Dark plumage with a distinctive chestnut collar and throat. Aerial insectivore, often foraging in mixed-species swift flocks over forests and highlands.