Volcano Swiftlet vs White-chested Swift
Aerodramus vulcanorum compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Volcano Swiftlet | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus vulcanorum | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.0 cm (9.4 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 14.4 g (0.51 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … | 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
Volcano Swiftlet
High twittering calls; thin 'tsit' notes over Javan volcanic mountains; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; slightly larger than many swiftlets; calls produce soft chattering
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
Volcano Swiftlet
Endemic to the volcanoes of Java at 1,000–3,400 m. Resident in montane forest near active and dormant craters. Very restricted range.
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
Volcano Swiftlet
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Volcano Swiftlet
Small; dark sooty-brown upperparts; grey-brown rump barely paler than back; underparts dark grey-brown; forked tail; restricted to Java's volcanoes; notably lacks a distinct pale rump band contrasting with the dark …
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
Volcano Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to highland volcanic areas of Java, Sumatra, and Bali, Indonesia. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over montane forests above 1,000 m. Colonial nester in volcanic caves. Closely related to Himalayan Swiftlet.
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.