Great Dusky Swift vs Malagasy Palm Swift
Cypseloides senex compared with Cypsiurus gracilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Dusky Swift | Malagasy Palm Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cypseloides senex | Cypsiurus gracilis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) | 24.8 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 83.0 g (2.93 oz) | 12.0 g (0.42 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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
Malagasy Palm Swift
Sharp, emphatic chip followed by buzzy rattle; staccato delivery with rising inflection at end of each phrase sequence.
Geographic Range & Migration
Great Dusky Swift
Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.
Malagasy Palm Swift
Found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Resident in open areas with palms and forest edge across Madagascar.
Conservation Status
Great Dusky Swift
Malagasy Palm Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Malagasy Palm Swift
Slender; pale grey-brown overall; underparts slightly paler; long deeply forked tail; Malagasy endemic; very similar to African Palm Swift in uniform pale brown coloration but slightly smaller and confined to …
About These Birds
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.
Malagasy Palm Swift
A slender swift (15-16 cm) endemic to Madagascar. Dark brown plumage with a deeply forked tail. Closely related to African Palm Swift. Aerial insectivore, foraging over open country, towns, and along forest edges. Associated with Ravenala and other palms for nesting.