Satin Swiftlet vs Great Dusky Swift
Collocalia uropygialis compared with Cypseloides senex
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Satin Swiftlet | Great Dusky Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Collocalia uropygialis | Cypseloides senex |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.4 g (0.19 oz) | 83.0 g (2.93 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore catching tiny flying insects, midges, and airborne spiders in fast low-altitude flight near … | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Satin Swiftlet
Very thin, high twittering; rapid 'chip' notes over Bismarck Archipelago islands; echolocation clicks inside cave roosts; tiny; call barely distinguishable from other small swiftlets
Great Dusky Swift
Loud, churring trill; harsher and louder than other Cypseloides; calls over Iguacu Falls and major Neotropical waterfalls; buzzy 'bzzzt-bzzzt' in aerial groups
Geographic Range & Migration
Satin Swiftlet
Found in the Moluccas and southwestern Pacific including New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Resident in lowland forest, forest edge, and open areas.
Great Dusky Swift
Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.
Conservation Status
Satin Swiftlet
Great Dusky Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Satin Swiftlet
Tiny; blackish upperparts with satiny blue-green gloss; white rump band; underparts dark sooty-grey; forked tail; Oceanian swiftlet with satin-like sheen on upperparts distinguishing it from duller relatives in the region.
Great Dusky Swift
Very large; entirely dark sooty-brown with pale grey forehead and chin scaling; slightly paler underparts; broad wings; largest Cypseloides swift; South American waterfall specialist with dusky uniform plumage and imposing …
About These Birds
Satin Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) found in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands. Dark upperparts with a satiny sheen and pale underparts. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Recently split from Glossy Swiftlet based on genetic and vocal differences.
Great Dusky Swift
A large swift (18-20 cm) of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Dark sooty-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested gorges and waterfalls. Nests in large colonies behind waterfalls. The largest member of the genus Cypseloides.