Pale-rumped Swift vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Chaetura egregia compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pale-rumped Swift | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetura egregia | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.4 cm (9.2 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 23.68 g (0.84 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Pale-rumped Swift
Breathy, rippling chatter with airy quality; light twittering notes loosely strung together in relaxed arrhythmic sequences.
Chestnut-collared Swift
High, screaming trill; rapid 'scree-scree' in flight; shrill and penetrating; calls over Neotropical mountains and canyon edges; alarm a rapid screeching chatter
Geographic Range & Migration
Pale-rumped Swift
Found in the western Amazon basin from eastern Peru and Bolivia east to central Brazil. Resident in lowland tropical forest near rivers.
Chestnut-collared Swift
Found from Mexico and the Caribbean south through Central America and South America to Argentina. Resident in highlands near mountain cliffs.
Conservation Status
Pale-rumped Swift
Chestnut-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Pale-rumped Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown upperparts; distinctively very pale whitish rump strongly contrasting with dark back; underparts dark grey-brown; short spiny tail; Amazonian species with one of the most striking white rumps …
Chestnut-collared Swift
Dark blackish-brown body with diagnostic rich chestnut collar encircling entire neck; collar bold and complete; underparts slightly paler brown; small swift with striking warm-toned neck band contrasting vividly with dark …
About These Birds
Pale-rumped Swift
A small swift (11-12 cm) of humid lowland forests from Colombia to Peru and western Brazil. Dark plumage with a conspicuous pale rump band. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and rivers. Often seen in mixed-species swift flocks.
Chestnut-collared Swift
A small swift (13-14 cm) found from Mexico through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Dark plumage with a distinctive chestnut collar and throat. Aerial insectivore, often foraging in mixed-species swift flocks over forests and highlands.