Glossy Swiftlet vs White-collared Swift
Collocalia esculenta compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Glossy Swiftlet | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Collocalia esculenta | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 19.9 cm (7.8 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 8.66 g (0.31 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Glossy Swiftlet
Rapid, high-pitched twittering; thin 'tsit-tsit-tsit' in flight; echolocation clicks audible in cave roosts; very common; calls over forest and open areas; colonial and noisy
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
Glossy Swiftlet
Found from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to New Guinea, Australia, and Pacific islands. One of the most widespread swiftlets.
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
Glossy Swiftlet
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Glossy Swiftlet
Tiny; brilliant blue-green glossy upperparts; contrasting white rump patch; white underparts; deeply forked tail; widespread Indo-Pacific species and one of the most colourful swiftlets with a striking tricolour of gloss, …
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
Glossy Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) widespread from the Malay Peninsula through Indonesia to the Pacific islands. Glossy blue-black upperparts with whitish or grey underparts. Aerial insectivore, foraging in flocks over forest and open country. Colonial nester in caves and under rock overhangs.
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.