Pallid Swift vs Silver-backed Needletail
Apus pallidus compared with Hirundapus cochinchinensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pallid Swift | Silver-backed Needletail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus pallidus | Hirundapus cochinchinensis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.4 cm (13.1 in) | 36.6 cm (14.4 in) |
| Weight | 42.25 g (1.49 oz) | 85.97999999999999 g (3.03 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. | Obligate aerial forager on small insects and airborne spiders; among the fastest-flying of all swift … |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Pallid Swift only
Song & Call Comparison
Pallid Swift
Melodic, rolling trill with rich timbre; sustained musical phrase with slight variations on repeated delivery at dusk.
Silver-backed Needletail
Dry, rattling trill with softer ending; rapid series of clipped notes dropping slightly in pitch as the bird gains speed.
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.
Silver-backed Needletail
Found from northeastern India and China through Southeast Asia to the Greater Sundas. Partially migratory; winters south in forest and open areas.
Conservation Status
Pallid Swift
Silver-backed 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 …
Silver-backed Needletail
Large; blackish-brown body; distinctive large silvery-white back patch between wings; white throat and undertail coverts; short spiny tail; Southeast Asian species closely resembling White-throated Needletail but silvery-white saddle more extensive.
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.
Silver-backed Needletail
A large needletail swift (19-20 cm) found in hill and montane forests from India through Southeast Asia. Dark plumage with a silver-grey back and white throat. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore with powerful, rapid flight. Resident and partial migrant.