Nyanza Swift vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Apus niansae compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Nyanza Swift | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus niansae | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 32.4 g (1.14 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial forager; feeds entirely on the wing on small flying insects, midges, and airborne … | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 2 |
| 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.
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
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.
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
Nyanza Swift
Chestnut-collared 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 …
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
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.
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.