Pallid Swift vs White-throated Needletail
Apus pallidus compared with Hirundapus caudacutus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pallid Swift | White-throated Needletail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus pallidus | Hirundapus caudacutus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.4 cm (13.1 in) | 41.2 cm (16.2 in) |
| Weight | 42.25 g (1.49 oz) | 101.475 g (3.58 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 2-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Pallid Swift
Melodic, rolling trill with rich timbre; sustained musical phrase with slight variations on repeated delivery at dusk.
White-throated Needletail
Powerful, loud churring rattle descending in pitch; deep resonant trill audible from great distance, forceful and sustained.
Geographic Range & Migration
Pallid Swift
Breeds in the Mediterranean and North Africa east to Pakistan. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia.
White-throated Needletail
Breeds in Siberia, China, Japan, and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Australasia and Southeast Asia. Breeds in forests and cliffs.
Conservation Status
Pallid Swift
White-throated Needletail
How to Tell Them Apart
Pallid Swift
Medium-large; pale brownish-grey overall, distinctly paler than Common Swift; larger pale throat patch; wing coverts show pale scaly edges; Mediterranean and Middle Eastern species; pale sandy-brown tone separates it from …
White-throated Needletail
Large; dark blackish-brown upperparts with metallic green gloss; white throat and undertail coverts; pale white back saddle between wings; short spiny tail; one of the world's fastest birds; white throat …
About These Birds
Pallid Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) similar to Common Swift but paler, sandy-brown overall with a larger white throat patch. Found across southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Aerial insectivore. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
White-throated Needletail
A large needletail swift (19-20 cm, wingspan 50-55 cm) with powerful, rapid flight. Dark brown plumage with a white throat and undertail. Spine-tipped tail. Breeds in forests of eastern Asia from Siberia to Australia. One of the fastest flying birds, reaching speeds over 160 km/h.