Common Swift vs White-collared Swift
Apus apus compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus apus | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.3 cm (12.7 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 41.5 g (1.46 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Common Swift
Crisp, two-noted call: quick sharp chip followed by descending whistle; distinctive pattern repeated at measured intervals.
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
Common Swift
Breeds across Europe and Asia from the British Isles east to Siberia and China. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Common Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Swift
Uniformly blackish-brown above and below; pale whitish throat patch; slightly forked tail; no other pale markings; sexes identical; the archetypal swift shape with scythe-like wings; widespread Palearctic breeder and Sub-Saharan …
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
Common Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm, wingspan 42-48 cm) with dark blackish-brown plumage and a pale throat. One of the most aerial of all birds, spending nearly its entire life on the wing, sleeping, eating, and even mating in flight. Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
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.