Southern Swift vs White-collared Swift
Chaetura meridionalis compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Southern Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetura meridionalis | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.3 cm (10.4 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 19.8 g (0.70 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Completely aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; never forages on the ground or … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 3-5 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Southern Swift
Faint, thin squealing trill; rapid metallic chips cascading high-pitched over coastal forest, almost ventriloquial in quality.
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
Southern Swift
Found in southern South America from Brazil to Argentina. Migratory, moving north to Amazonia during the austral winter. Open areas and forest.
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
Southern Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Southern Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown overall; pale grey rump band moderately contrasting with dark back; underparts dark grey-brown; short spiny tail; southern South American migratory species; closely resembles Ashy-tailed Swift but rump …
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
Southern Swift
A small swift (11-12 cm) found in southeastern South America from Brazil to Argentina. Dark grey-brown plumage. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore. A long-distance austral migrant, breeding in southern Brazil and migrating north to Amazonia in the austral winter.
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.