Andean Swift vs Great Dusky Swift
Aeronautes andecolus compared with Cypseloides senex
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Swift | Great Dusky Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aeronautes andecolus | Cypseloides senex |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.0 cm (11.0 in) | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) |
| Weight | 17.1 g (0.60 oz) | 83.0 g (2.93 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial insectivore consuming swarms of tiny flies, winged ants, and ballooning spiders on the … | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1-2 |
| 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.
Great Dusky Swift
Loud, churring trill; harsher and louder than other Cypseloides; calls over Iguacu Falls and major Neotropical waterfalls; buzzy 'bzzzt-bzzzt' in aerial groups
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.
Great Dusky Swift
Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.
Conservation Status
Andean Swift
Great Dusky 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.
Great Dusky Swift
Very large; entirely dark sooty-brown with pale grey forehead and chin scaling; slightly paler underparts; broad wings; largest Cypseloides swift; South American waterfall specialist with dusky uniform plumage and imposing …
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.
Great Dusky Swift
A large swift (18-20 cm) of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Dark sooty-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested gorges and waterfalls. Nests in large colonies behind waterfalls. The largest member of the genus Cypseloides.