Atiu Swiftlet vs White-chested Swift
Aerodramus sawtelli compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Atiu Swiftlet | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus sawtelli | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 8.6 g (0.30 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Small aerial insectivore feeding on minute flying insects and spiders; forages over forest canopy and … | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Atiu Swiftlet
Very high thin twittering; 'tsit' calls over Cook Islands; audible echolocation clicks inside Atiu makatea caves; vulnerable endemic; vocal near cave entrances only
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
Atiu Swiftlet
Endemic to Atiu Island in the southern Cook Islands. Resident on this single island; nests in limestone caves. Small and vulnerable population.
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
Atiu Swiftlet
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Atiu Swiftlet
Tiny; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale grey rump band; underparts whitish-grey; forked tail; Cook Islands endemic restricted to Atiu Island; extremely small range and vulnerable status; plumage similar to Polynesian Swiftlet.
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
Atiu Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10 cm) endemic to the island of Atiu in the Cook Islands of the South Pacific. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Nests in small caves and sinkholes (makatea) on the raised coral island. One of the most range-restricted swiftlets, with a tiny population.
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.