Dark-rumped Swift vs White-chested Swift
Apus acuticauda compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Dark-rumped Swift | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus acuticauda | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.8 cm (13.7 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 37.43 g (1.32 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore feeding on swarms of small flies, winged ants, and tiny beetles during sustained … | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Dark-rumped Swift
Thin, high twittering with silvery sheen; rapid sequence of light notes with gentle tremolo quality at dawn and dusk.
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
Dark-rumped Swift
Found in northeastern India (Assam) and adjacent Myanmar. Rare and poorly known; found in forested hills and river valleys at moderate elevation.
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
Dark-rumped Swift
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Dark-rumped Swift
Dark sooty-brown throughout with dark rump concolorous with back; no contrasting white rump patch; pale white throat; underparts dark brown; Himalayan endemic cliff-nester; dark rump contrasting with white-rumped relatives is …
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
Dark-rumped Swift
A medium-sized swift (17-18 cm) found in hill and montane regions of South and Southeast Asia, from the Himalayas to Indochina. Dark plumage with a contrasting dark rump. Aerial insectivore. Breeds on cliffs. Classified as Vulnerable due to limited breeding sites and habitat disturbance.
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.