White-throated Swift vs Pallid Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis compared with Apus pallidus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-throated Swift | Pallid Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aeronautes saxatalis | Apus pallidus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.1 cm (11.1 in) | 33.4 cm (13.1 in) |
| Weight | 34.03 g (1.20 oz) | 42.25 g (1.49 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore relying entirely on flying insects (midges, gnats, small beetles) and airborne spiders. | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-throated Swift
Sharp, whistled notes alternating with buzzy trills; crisp di-di-dit pattern repeated rhythmically during swift soaring flights.
Pallid Swift
Melodic, rolling trill with rich timbre; sustained musical phrase with slight variations on repeated delivery at dusk.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-throated Swift
Found in western North America from British Columbia south through the Rocky Mountains to Central America. Partially migratory northward.
Pallid Swift
Breeds in the Mediterranean and North Africa east to Pakistan. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia.
Conservation Status
White-throated Swift
Pallid Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
White-throated Swift
Black upperparts; bold white throat and white flanks extending to white central underparts; black sides of breast and belly create striking tricoloured pattern; white lateral tail spots; Western North American …
Pallid Swift
Medium-large; pale brownish-grey overall, distinctly paler than Common Swift; larger pale throat patch; wing coverts show pale scaly edges; Mediterranean and Middle Eastern species; pale sandy-brown tone separates it from …
About These Birds
White-throated Swift
A medium-sized swift (15-17 cm) with striking black and white plumage, unique among North American swifts. White throat, breast, and flank patches contrast with black body. Found in canyons and cliffs of western North America. Aerial insectivore; resident in southern range.
Pallid Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) similar to Common Swift but paler, sandy-brown overall with a larger white throat patch. Found across southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Aerial insectivore. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.