Vaux's Swift vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Chaetura vauxi compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Vaux's Swift | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetura vauxi | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.3 cm (8.8 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 18.033333333333335 g (0.64 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | Exclusively aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and spiders drifting in aerial plankton at altitude. | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Vaux's Swift
Soft, high sibilant whisper followed by ticking notes; delicate trill barely audible beyond immediate roosting vicinity.
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
Vaux's Swift
Breeds in western North America from Alaska south to Central America. Migrates to winter in Venezuela and northwestern South America.
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
Vaux's Swift
Chestnut-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Vaux's Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown upperparts; pale grey rump slightly paler than back; underparts pale greyish-brown; short spiny tail; smaller and paler-bellied than Chimney Swift; Pacific coast North American species with subtly …
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
Vaux's Swift
A small swift (11-12 cm) found in western North America from Alaska to Central America. Dark grey-brown plumage similar to Chimney Swift but smaller. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, nesting in hollow trees and chimneys. Partial migrant wintering in Central America.
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.