Philippine Glossy Swiftlet vs White-collared Swift
Collocalia marginata compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Philippine Glossy Swiftlet | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Collocalia marginata | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 7.2 g (0.25 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Tiny aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; congregates where insects emerge over water. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Very high thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' in flight; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; extremely small; call barely audible to human ear; rapid chittering over Philippine 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
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Endemic to the Philippines, found on most major islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas up to 1,500 m elevation.
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
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Tiny; glossy greenish-black upperparts; white-buff rump patch; dark sooty underparts; deeply forked tail; endemic to Philippine islands; the blue-green iridescence on the back is more pronounced than in drabber Collocalia …
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
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Glossy dark plumage with pale fringes on wing feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. Colonial nester in caves. Found across most major Philippine islands.
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.