Tenggara Swiftlet vs White-chested Swift
Collocalia sumbawae compared with Cypseloides lemosi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tenggara Swiftlet | White-chested Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Collocalia sumbawae | Cypseloides lemosi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 5.9 g (0.21 oz) | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial plankton specialist catching tiny flies, gnats, and airborne spiders in tight acrobatic flight. | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Tenggara Swiftlet
Very high thin twittering; rapid 'tsit' notes over Sumbawa; echolocation clicks used in limestone caves; call among the highest frequency of any swiftlet species
White-chested Swift
High, thin twittering; soft 'tsit' calls in flight; calls over Colombian waterfalls; very poorly known; thin, reedy contact notes; one of most rarely documented swifts
Geographic Range & Migration
Tenggara Swiftlet
Endemic to the Lesser Sundas of Indonesia including Sumbawa, Flores, and Timor. Resident in open forest and savanna at low elevations.
White-chested Swift
Known from Colombia and adjacent Ecuador. One of the world's rarest swifts; recorded at waterfalls in humid forest foothills at 500–1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Tenggara Swiftlet
White-chested Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Tenggara Swiftlet
Tiny; dark blue-black upperparts with green gloss; pale whitish-buff rump band; dark sooty-grey underparts; Lesser Sunda Islands endemic; extremely similar to Glossy Swiftlet but restricted to eastern Indonesian islands.
White-chested Swift
Black upperparts and wings; distinctive large white chest patch contrasting sharply with black throat and belly; white confined to central breast; Colombian endemic with unique bold bicoloured plumage unlike any …
About These Birds
Tenggara Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands (Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba) of Indonesia. Dark glossy plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest and open areas. Colonial cave nester. Limited ecological data; restricted island range.
White-chested Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) endemic to the upper Cauca Valley of Colombia. Sooty-black plumage with a white breast patch. Aerial insectivore of subtropical forests. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.