White-chested Swift vs Biscutate Swift
Cypseloides lemosi compared with Streptoprocne biscutata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-chested Swift | Biscutate Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cypseloides lemosi | Streptoprocne biscutata |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | 38.4 cm (15.1 in) |
| Weight | 28.400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) | 106.67999999999999 g (3.76 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. | Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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
Biscutate Swift
Loud, screeching trill; powerful 'schreeee' calls; similar to White-collared Swift but slightly lower; calls in large flocks over Brazilian mountains and waterfalls
Geographic Range & Migration
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.
Biscutate Swift
Found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay in eastern South America. Resident in forest and open terrain; nests on rock faces.
Conservation Status
White-chested Swift
Biscutate Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Biscutate Swift
Large; blackish-brown with white collar interrupted at centre of nape creating two white patches rather than a complete ring; South American species readily distinguished from White-collared Swift by broken collar …
About These Birds
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.
Biscutate Swift
A large swift (19-21 cm) similar to White-collared Swift but with two separated white breast patches. Found in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested gorges. Nests behind waterfalls in large colonies.