Salim Ali's Swift vs White-collared Swift
Apus salimalii compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Salim Ali's Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus salimalii | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 42.949999999999996 g (1.52 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial-only diet of small flying insects, winged termites, and drifting spiders caught during continuous flight. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| 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-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
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-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
Salim Ali's Swift
White-collared 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-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
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-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.