Tenggara Swiftlet vs Black Spinetail
Collocalia sumbawae compared with Telacanthura melanopygia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tenggara Swiftlet | Black Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Collocalia sumbawae | Telacanthura melanopygia |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 32.4 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 5.9 g (0.21 oz) | 52.0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial plankton specialist catching tiny flies, gnats, and airborne spiders in tight acrobatic flight. | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| 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
Black Spinetail
Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.
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.
Black Spinetail
Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.
Conservation Status
Tenggara Swiftlet
Black Spinetail
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.
Black Spinetail
Large; entirely black plumage with slight gloss; black rump unlike white-rumped congeners; underparts dark; spiny tail; West African forest species; all-black coloration with no contrasting markings distinguishes it from all …
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.
Black Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) of lowland rainforests in West and Central Africa. All-dark plumage. Spine-tipped tail for bracing against tree trunks. Aerial insectivore, foraging above the forest canopy. Nests inside hollow trees. Uncommon and seldom observed.