Nyanza Swift vs White-chested Swift
Apus niansae compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Nyanza Swift | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus niansae | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 32.4 g (1.14 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial forager; feeds entirely on the wing on small flying insects, midges, and airborne … | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Nyanza Swift
High, thin sibilant trill with insect-like quality; barely perceptible rapid modulation of a single high-pitched note.
White-chested Swift
High, thin twittering; soft 'tsit' calls in flight; calls over Colombian waterfalls; very poorly known; thin, reedy contact notes; one of most rarely documented swifts
Geographic Range & Migration
Nyanza Swift
Found in East Africa from Ethiopia and Sudan south to Uganda and Kenya. Resident or intra-African migrant in open savanna near Lake Victoria.
White-chested Swift
Known from Colombia and adjacent Ecuador. One of the world's rarest swifts; recorded at waterfalls in humid forest foothills at 500–1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Nyanza Swift
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Nyanza Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale whitish chin and throat patch; underparts slightly paler brown; moderately forked tail; East African species similar to Common Swift but slightly paler below with a subtly …
White-chested Swift
Black upperparts and wings; distinctive large white chest patch contrasting sharply with black throat and belly; white confined to central breast; Colombian endemic with unique bold bicoloured plumage unlike any …
About These Birds
Nyanza Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) found in highland areas of East Africa from Sudan to Tanzania. Dark plumage with a white belly patch. Aerial insectivore. Often seen in mixed flocks with other swift species over montane grassland. Sometimes considered a subspecies of African Swift.
White-chested Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) endemic to the upper Cauca Valley of Colombia. Sooty-black plumage with a white breast patch. Aerial insectivore of subtropical forests. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.