Marquesas Swiftlet vs White-collared Swift
Aerodramus ocistus compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Marquesas Swiftlet | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus ocistus | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 9.5 g (0.34 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Marquesas Swiftlet
High thin twittering; 'chip-chip' over Marquesas Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; poorly documented; thin high-pitched calls typical of small Pacific swiftlets
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
Marquesas Swiftlet
Endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Resident on major islands including Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. Nests in sea caves.
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
Marquesas Swiftlet
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Marquesas Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale grey-white; forked tail; Marquesas Islands endemic in French Polynesia; closely related to Polynesian Swiftlet but isolated on its own archipelago.
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
Marquesas Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Population restricted to a few volcanic islands in the central Pacific. Classified as Endangered due to extremely limited range.
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.