Pacific Swift vs White-collared Swift
Apus pacificus compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pacific Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus pacificus | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 41.516666666666666 g (1.46 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds aerially on tiny insects and spiders, often following weather fronts where aerial plankton concentrates. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Pacific Swift only
White-collared Swift only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Pacific Swift
Thin, reedy trill with nasal overtone; soft chattering notes delivered continuously during rapid low-level flight over fields.
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
Pacific Swift
Breeds from Siberia and Japan south to China and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Southeast Asia and Australia.
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
Pacific Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Pacific Swift
Dark blackish-brown upperparts; distinctive white rump patch contrasting with dark back; white throat patch; underparts dark with pale brown barring; deeply forked tail; white rump distinguishes it from Common Swift …
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
Pacific Swift
A medium-sized swift (17-18 cm) found across eastern Asia from Siberia to Australia. Dark plumage with a white rump patch and deeply forked tail. Aerial insectivore. A long-distance migrant, breeding in Asia and wintering in Southeast Asia and Australasia.
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.