Papuan Swiftlet vs White-collared Swift
Aerodramus papuensis compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Papuan Swiftlet | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus papuensis | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.5 cm (10.4 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 20.4 g (0.72 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds aerially on tiny flying insects and drifting spiders; often forages in mixed-species flocks over … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Papuan Swiftlet
High thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' over New Guinea; echolocation clicks used in cave roosts; larger than many swiftlets; slightly deeper calls; data deficient in recordings
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
Papuan Swiftlet
Found in lowland New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge. Little-known Papuan endemic.
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
Papuan Swiftlet
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Papuan Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale grey rump band; underparts pale grey; forked tail; New Guinea swiftlet; large for the genus; data-deficient with limited specimens; rump band moderately contrasting with dark …
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
Papuan Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) found in lowland and hill forests of New Guinea. Dark plumage with a slightly pale rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Closely related to the Edible-nest Swiftlet. Limited published ecological data.
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.