Pallid Swift vs White-naped Swift
Apus pallidus compared with Streptoprocne semicollaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pallid Swift | White-naped Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus pallidus | Streptoprocne semicollaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.4 cm (13.1 in) | 44.4 cm (17.5 in) |
| Weight | 42.25 g (1.49 oz) | 175.0 g (6.17 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. | Exclusively aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and spiders drifting in aerial plankton at altitude. |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 2 |
| 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-naped Swift
Very loud screaming trill; deep, powerful 'shreee' from Mexico's largest swift; calls over cliffs and canyons; impressive volume; deeper than White-collared Swift
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-naped Swift
Endemic to Mexico from Nayarit south to Oaxaca. Found in montane forest and canyons at 1,000–3,000 m. Nests behind waterfalls.
Conservation Status
Pallid Swift
White-naped Swift
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-naped Swift
Very large; entirely black with white patch restricted to nape only, not forming a full collar; large square tail; Mexican endemic and the largest swift in Middle America; white nape …
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-naped Swift
A large swift (20-22 cm) endemic to Mexico, found in montane regions from Nayarit to Guerrero. Dark plumage with a white half-collar on the nape. Aerial insectivore, foraging over pine-oak forests and barrancas. Nests in large cave colonies. Near Threatened due to limited range.