Philippine Swiftlet vs White-chested Swift
Aerodramus mearnsi compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Philippine Swiftlet | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus mearnsi | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.8 cm (8.6 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 11.5 g (0.41 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial feeder on microscopic flying insects and spiders; highly social forager over tropical forest. | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Philippine Swiftlet
High twittering trill; thin 'tsit-tsit' notes over Philippine mountains; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; calls softly; flock produces chattering at roost; unremarkable vocalizations
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
Philippine Swiftlet
Endemic to the Philippines, found on Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas.
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
Philippine Swiftlet
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Philippine Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts with faint gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts greyish-white; moderately forked tail; Philippine endemic using echolocation; echolocation ability distinguishes Aerodramus from Collocalia swiftlets.
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
Philippine Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Uses echolocation for navigating dark cave interiors. Found across the major Philippine island groups. Poorly studied ecology.
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.