Caroline Swiftlet vs White-collared Swift
Aerodramus inquietus compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Caroline Swiftlet | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus inquietus | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.8 cm (9.0 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 11.0 g (0.39 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Caroline Swiftlet
Thin twittering calls; 'tsit-tsit' over Caroline Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; moderate-pitched for swiftlet; produces soft chattering at colonial nesting sites
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
Caroline Swiftlet
Found across the Caroline Islands of Micronesia including Pohnpei and Chuuk. Resident in lowland forest and cave systems.
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
Caroline Swiftlet
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Caroline Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; Micronesian endemic from Caroline Islands; very similar to Palau Swiftlet but distributed on a distinct island group.
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
Caroline Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Caroline Islands of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae). Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial cave nester. Restricted to a few high volcanic islands in the western Pacific.
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.