Rothschild's Swift vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Cypseloides rothschildi compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rothschild's Swift | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cypseloides rothschildi | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.6 cm (12.0 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 43.0 g (1.52 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore feeding on swarms of small flies, winged ants, and tiny beetles during sustained … | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Rothschild's Swift
Thin, buzzy twittering in flight; soft 'tsee-tsee' contact notes; calls over Andean waterfalls; quiet and unobtrusive vocally; high-pitched but weak; rarely heard
Chestnut-collared Swift
High, screaming trill; rapid 'scree-scree' in flight; shrill and penetrating; calls over Neotropical mountains and canyon edges; alarm a rapid screeching chatter
Geographic Range & Migration
Rothschild's Swift
Found in the Andes of northwestern Argentina and adjacent Bolivia at 1,500–3,000 m. Very poorly known; nests near waterfalls in humid forest.
Chestnut-collared Swift
Found from Mexico and the Caribbean south through Central America and South America to Argentina. Resident in highlands near mountain cliffs.
Conservation Status
Rothschild's Swift
Chestnut-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Rothschild's Swift
Blackish-brown overall with subtle pale scaling on throat and forehead; underparts slightly paler brownish; no contrasting white markings; robust-bodied Andean swift distinguished from Sooty Swift by faint pale throat scaling.
Chestnut-collared Swift
Dark blackish-brown body with diagnostic rich chestnut collar encircling entire neck; collar bold and complete; underparts slightly paler brown; small swift with striking warm-toned neck band contrasting vividly with dark …
About These Birds
Rothschild's Swift
A medium-sized swift (15-16 cm) found in montane forests of northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia at 1,000-3,000 m elevation. Dark sooty plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested valleys. Nests behind waterfalls. Uncommon and local; named after Walter Rothschild.
Chestnut-collared Swift
A small swift (13-14 cm) found from Mexico through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Dark plumage with a distinctive chestnut collar and throat. Aerial insectivore, often foraging in mixed-species swift flocks over forests and highlands.