Himalayan Swiftlet vs White-collared Swift
Aerodramus brevirostris compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Himalayan Swiftlet | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus brevirostris | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.6 cm (9.7 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 12.65 g (0.45 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Small aerial insectivore feeding on minute flying insects and spiders; forages over forest canopy and … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| 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
White-collared Swift
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
Himalayan Swiftlet
Breeds in the Himalayas from India to southern China and Indochina. Partially migratory, wintering south to peninsular India and Southeast Asia.
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.
Conservation Status
Himalayan Swiftlet
White-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 …
White-collared Swift
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
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.
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.