Band-rumped Swift vs White-collared Swift
Chaetura spinicaudus compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Band-rumped Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetura spinicaudus | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 20.7 cm (8.1 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 16.4 g (0.58 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Band-rumped Swift
Raspy, churring call with hollow resonance; rough bursts of chattering notes interrupted by brief mechanical clicking sounds.
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
Band-rumped Swift
Found in Panama and northwestern South America from Colombia east to Venezuela and the Guianas, south to Brazil and Bolivia. Lowland 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
Band-rumped Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Band-rumped Swift
Small; sooty-brown overall with narrow pale grey-white rump band forming a distinct narrow transverse stripe; underparts dark grey-brown; short spiny tail; Amazonian species distinguished by the band-like narrow rump patch.
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
Band-rumped Swift
A small swift (11 cm) of lowland forests from Costa Rica to Brazil. Dark plumage with a conspicuous pale rump band. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging in flocks over forest canopy. Often seen near rivers and forest edges. Nests in hollow trees.
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.