Salim Ali's Swift vs White-chested Swift
Apus salimalii compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Salim Ali's Swift | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus salimalii | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 42.949999999999996 g (1.52 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial-only diet of small flying insects, winged termites, and drifting spiders caught during continuous flight. | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Salim Ali's Swift
Faint, high-pitched squeak nearly inaudible; minute twittering barely registering above background in dense forest habitats.
White-chested Swift
High, thin twittering; soft 'tsit' calls in flight; calls over Colombian waterfalls; very poorly known; thin, reedy contact notes; one of most rarely documented swifts
Geographic Range & Migration
Salim Ali's Swift
Found in northeastern India, China, and Indochina. Resident or short-distance migrant in hill and mountain forest. Recently split from Pacific Swift.
White-chested Swift
Known from Colombia and adjacent Ecuador. One of the world's rarest swifts; recorded at waterfalls in humid forest foothills at 500–1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Salim Ali's Swift
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Salim Ali's Swift
Dark sooty-brown upperparts; white rump patch; pale white throat; underparts dark; deeply forked tail; recently split from Pacific Swift; named in honour of Indian ornithologist Salim Ali; plumage virtually identical …
White-chested Swift
Black upperparts and wings; distinctive large white chest patch contrasting sharply with black throat and belly; white confined to central breast; Colombian endemic with unique bold bicoloured plumage unlike any …
About These Birds
Salim Ali's Swift
A medium-sized swift recently described and split from Pacific Swift, found in the Western Ghats and central India. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore. Named after the renowned Indian ornithologist Salim Ali. Limited ecological data as a newly recognized species.
White-chested Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) endemic to the upper Cauca Valley of Colombia. Sooty-black plumage with a white breast patch. Aerial insectivore of subtropical forests. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.