Great Dusky Swift vs Tepui Swift
Cypseloides senex compared with Streptoprocne phelpsi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Dusky Swift | Tepui Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cypseloides senex | Streptoprocne phelpsi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 83.0 g (2.93 oz) | 22.240000000000002 g (0.78 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| 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
Tepui Swift
Sharp, rapid twittering; thin screaming 'scree-scree'; calls over tepui summits in Venezuela; higher-pitched than White-collared Swift; small size reflected in thin notes
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.
Tepui Swift
Found in the tepui highlands of southern Venezuela and adjacent Guyana and Brazil above 1,000 m. Resident in Guiana Shield rocky outcrops.
Conservation Status
Great Dusky Swift
Tepui 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 …
Tepui Swift
Dark blackish-brown overall with no white collar; slightly paler brownish-grey chin; small and compact; confined to Venezuelan tepuis; lacks the diagnostic white or chestnut collar found in most Streptoprocne swifts.
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.
Tepui Swift
A medium-sized swift (15-16 cm) endemic to the tepui highlands of southern Venezuela and adjacent Guyana. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over tepui cliffs and forested valleys. Named after William Phelps. One of the least known Neotropical swifts.