Little Swift vs White-collared Swift
Apus affinis compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Little Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus affinis | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.3 cm (10.0 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 25.0 g (0.88 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Little Swift
Harsh, crackling chatter with emphatic rhythm; series of rough notes delivered at pace with occasional sharp screech.
White-collared Swift
Loud, screaming 'shreee-shreee'; powerful screeching trill; calls from large flocks over mountains; very audible; one of the loudest Neotropical swifts; alarm a harsh rattle
Geographic Range & Migration
Little Swift
Found across Africa and Asia from Senegal east to India and Sri Lanka, and southeast to Southeast Asia. Common in urban areas and open country.
White-collared Swift
Found from Mexico south through Central America to South America east of the Andes, reaching Bolivia and southern Brazil. Often in large flocks.
Conservation Status
Little Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Little Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown; large white rump patch; white throat; underparts dark; square-ended tail; widespread from Africa to Asia; the large square white rump patch and square tail distinguish it from …
White-collared Swift
Large; glossy blue-black plumage with bold broad white collar encircling entire neck; collar clean and complete; underparts black; large slightly forked tail; among the most recognisable Neotropical swifts due to …
About These Birds
Little Swift
A small swift (12-13 cm) widespread across the Old World tropics from Africa through Asia to Australasia. Dark plumage with a white rump and broad, square tail. Aerial insectivore. Commonly nests in colonies on buildings and bridges. One of the most familiar swifts in tropical towns.
White-collared Swift
A very large swift (20-22 cm, wingspan 45-55 cm) with a bold white collar band, the largest New World swift. Found from Mexico to southern Brazil and the Caribbean. Aerial insectivore, foraging in large, noisy flocks over forests and cities. Nests behind waterfalls and in caves.