Andean Swift vs White-chested Swift
Aeronautes andecolus compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Swift | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aeronautes andecolus | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.0 cm (11.0 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 17.1 g (0.60 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial insectivore consuming swarms of tiny flies, winged ants, and ballooning spiders on the … | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Andean Swift
Melodic whistled phrase with clear flute-like quality; gentle ascending series of pure notes echoing across high Andean slopes.
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
Andean Swift
Found along the Andes from Peru and Bolivia south to Chile and Argentina at 2,000–4,500 m. Resident in Andean valleys and rocky slopes.
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
Andean Swift
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Andean Swift
Dark blackish-brown upperparts; white throat and white flanks; slightly less bold white patterning than White-throated Swift; Andean high-altitude specialist ranging Peru to Argentina; similar plumage to congeners but geographically separated.
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
Andean Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-16 cm) of the high Andes from Peru to Argentina, typically found at 2,500-4,500 m elevation. Brown plumage with a white collar and belly. Aerial insectivore, foraging over high-altitude puna grassland and mountain slopes. One of the highest-flying swifts.
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.