Edible-nest Swiftlet vs White-chested Swift
Aerodramus fuciphagus compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Edible-nest Swiftlet | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus fuciphagus | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.6 cm (8.9 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 13.040000000000001 g (0.46 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; catches minute flies, beetles, and aerial spiders while foraging near cave roosts. | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Edible-nest Swiftlet
Rapid twittering; 'chip-chip-chip' over Southeast Asian coast; strong echolocation clicks distinctive in cave roosts; colonial nester; calls produce audible clicking chorus in caves
White-chested Swift
High, thin twittering; soft 'tsit' calls in flight; calls over Colombian waterfalls; very poorly known; thin, reedy contact notes; one of most rarely documented swifts
Geographic Range & Migration
Edible-nest Swiftlet
Found from the Andaman Islands east through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Produces edible nests used in bird's nest soup.
White-chested Swift
Known from Colombia and adjacent Ecuador. One of the world's rarest swifts; recorded at waterfalls in humid forest foothills at 500–1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Edible-nest Swiftlet
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Edible-nest Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale whitish-grey; forked tail; Southeast Asian species prized for white saliva nests used in bird's nest soup; plumage unremarkable but economically …
White-chested Swift
Black upperparts and wings; distinctive large white chest patch contrasting sharply with black throat and belly; white confined to central breast; Colombian endemic with unique bold bicoloured plumage unlike any …
About These Birds
Edible-nest Swiftlet
A medium-sized swiftlet (12-13 cm) found from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through Southeast Asia to Indonesia and the Philippines. Dark plumage. Famous for building nests almost entirely of solidified saliva, the primary ingredient in bird's nest soup, a luxury food item in East Asia.
White-chested Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) endemic to the upper Cauca Valley of Colombia. Sooty-black plumage with a white breast patch. Aerial insectivore of subtropical forests. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.