Chimney Swift vs White-collared Swift
Chaetura pelagica compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chimney Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetura pelagica | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.9 cm (9.8 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 22.666666666666668 g (0.80 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Chimney Swift
Rapid, liquid twittering with bright cheerful quality; chi-chi-chi staccato notes carrying well across open sky at dusk.
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
Chimney Swift
Breeds in eastern North America from Canada south to Texas. Long-distance migrant wintering in the upper Amazon basin of Peru and Brazil.
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
Chimney Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Chimney Swift
Small; uniformly dark sooty-grey overall with slightly paler grey throat and chin; no contrasting rump patch; short spiny tail; sexes identical; North American chimney-nesting species famous for its swirling pre-roost …
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
Chimney Swift
A medium-sized swift (12-15 cm) famous for roosting and nesting inside chimneys across eastern North America. Dark grey-brown plumage with a cigar-shaped body and short, spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore catching flying insects. Long-distance migrant wintering in northwestern South America.
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.