Blyth's Swift vs White-collared Swift
Apus leuconyx compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blyth's Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus leuconyx | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 42.949999999999996 g (1.52 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; takes small flies, beetles, and aerial spiders in swooping fast-flight passes. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| 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.
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
Blyth's Swift
Found from Central Asia and the Himalayas east to China and southeastern Russia. Migratory; winters in South and Southeast Asia.
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
Blyth's Swift
White-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.
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
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.
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.