Blyth's Swift vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Apus leuconyx compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blyth's Swift | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus leuconyx | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 42.949999999999996 g (1.52 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; takes small flies, beetles, and aerial spiders in swooping fast-flight passes. | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Blyth's Swift
Loud, piercing screech with shrill metallic quality; powerful prolonged calls audible from considerable distances in open sky.
Chestnut-collared Swift
High, screaming trill; rapid 'scree-scree' in flight; shrill and penetrating; calls over Neotropical mountains and canyon edges; alarm a rapid screeching chatter
Geographic Range & Migration
Blyth's Swift
Found from Central Asia and the Himalayas east to China and southeastern Russia. Migratory; winters in South and Southeast Asia.
Chestnut-collared Swift
Found from Mexico and the Caribbean south through Central America and South America to Argentina. Resident in highlands near mountain cliffs.
Conservation Status
Blyth's Swift
Chestnut-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Blyth's Swift
Dark blackish-brown upperparts; white rump patch; white throat; underparts dark brown; deeply forked tail; recently described species closely related to Pacific Swift; separation based on molecular and biometric characters.
Chestnut-collared Swift
Dark blackish-brown body with diagnostic rich chestnut collar encircling entire neck; collar bold and complete; underparts slightly paler brown; small swift with striking warm-toned neck band contrasting vividly with dark …
About These Birds
Blyth's Swift
A medium-sized swift found in montane regions of Central and East Asia. Dark plumage with a white chin patch. Aerial insectivore, foraging over mountain valleys and cliffs. Named after Edward Blyth. Breeds in rock crevices on high cliffs. Poorly known migratory patterns.
Chestnut-collared Swift
A small swift (13-14 cm) found from Mexico through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Dark plumage with a distinctive chestnut collar and throat. Aerial insectivore, often foraging in mixed-species swift flocks over forests and highlands.