Western Glossy Swiftlet vs White-collared Swift
Collocalia affinis compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Western Glossy Swiftlet | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Collocalia affinis | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 8.65 g (0.31 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore consuming minute dipterans, midges, and ballooning spiders caught in continuous fast flight. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Western Glossy Swiftlet
High, thin 'tsit-tsit'; rapid chittering in flight; echolocation clicks used inside caves; tiny size produces very high-pitched thin calls; soft twittering over forest
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
Western Glossy Swiftlet
Found from the Andaman Islands and northeastern India through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Resident in diverse forest habitats.
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
Western Glossy Swiftlet
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Western Glossy Swiftlet
Tiny; glossy blue-black upperparts with green iridescence; underparts dark sooty-grey; white-buff rump band; deeply forked tail; recently split taxon similar to Philippine Glossy Swiftlet but with subtly different rump and …
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
Western Glossy Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) found in lowland and hill forests of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Glossy blue-black upperparts with a paler rump. Aerial insectivore, feeding on tiny flying insects. Colonial nester in caves and buildings.
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.