Bradfield's Swift vs White-collared Swift
Apus bradfieldi compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bradfield's Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus bradfieldi | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 35.2 cm (13.9 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 44.25 g (1.56 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial insectivore consuming swarms of tiny flies, winged ants, and ballooning spiders on the … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Bradfield's Swift
Pure, whistled two-note phrase; first note high and sustained, second lower and brief, repeated every few seconds clearly.
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
Bradfield's Swift
Found in Namibia and adjacent parts of South Africa, Botswana, and Angola. Resident in rocky desert, escarpment cliffs, and semi-arid terrain.
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
Bradfield's Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Bradfield's Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale greyish throat patch; underparts slightly paler; large for an African Apus swift; Southern Africa dry-country specialist; slightly larger and greyer-toned than Pallid Swift with less pale …
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
Bradfield's Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) found in arid rocky regions of southwestern Africa (Namibia, Angola, western South Africa). Pale sandy-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over arid gorges and escarpments. Named after R.D.M. Bradfield. A southern African near-endemic.
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.