White-rumped Swiftlet vs White-chested Swift
Aerodramus spodiopygius compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-rumped Swiftlet | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus spodiopygius | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.4 cm (9.2 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 7.4 g (0.26 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-rumped Swiftlet
Rapid thin twittering; high 'tsit-tsit' notes over Pacific islands; echolocation clicks in caves; colonial; produces soft chattering in roost cavities; unremarkable call
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
White-rumped Swiftlet
Found across the southwestern Pacific including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu east to the Cook Islands. Resident from coast to mountains.
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
White-rumped Swiftlet
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
White-rumped Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-black upperparts with faint gloss; white rump patch contrasting sharply with dark back and tail; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; widespread Pacific species with diagnostically bright white rump.
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
White-rumped Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) widespread across the western Pacific from the Bismarck Archipelago to Fiji and Samoa. Dark plumage with a conspicuous white rump band. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. One of the most widespread Pacific swiftlets.
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.