White-fronted Swift vs White-collared Swift
Cypseloides storeri compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-fronted Swift | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cypseloides storeri | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.4 cm (10.8 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 39.25 g (1.38 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; takes small flies, beetles, and aerial spiders in swooping fast-flight passes. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-fronted Swift
Poorly known vocalizations; thin twittering presumed; calls over Mexican montane waterfalls; high-pitched soft chip notes; very rarely documented; data-deficient species
White-collared Swift
Loud, screaming 'shreee-shreee'; powerful screeching trill; calls from large flocks over mountains; very audible; one of the loudest Neotropical swifts; alarm a harsh rattle
Geographic Range & Migration
White-fronted Swift
Endemic to western Mexico from Jalisco to Oaxaca. Resident in forested highlands near canyon streams at 1,000–2,500 m. Poorly known.
White-collared Swift
Found from Mexico south through Central America to South America east of the Andes, reaching Bolivia and southern Brazil. Often in large flocks.
Conservation Status
White-fronted Swift
White-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
White-fronted Swift
Blackish-brown throughout with a prominent white frontal patch on forehead and lores; no other pale markings; slightly paler brownish below; poorly known Mexican endemic known from very few specimens.
White-collared Swift
Large; glossy blue-black plumage with bold broad white collar encircling entire neck; collar clean and complete; underparts black; large slightly forked tail; among the most recognisable Neotropical swifts due to …
About These Birds
White-fronted Swift
A medium-sized swift (14 cm) endemic to montane forests of western Mexico at 1,500-3,000 m elevation. Sooty-black plumage with a white forehead patch. Aerial insectivore feeding over forested mountainsides. One of the least known Neotropical swifts. Classified as Vulnerable.
White-collared Swift
A very large swift (20-22 cm, wingspan 45-55 cm) with a bold white collar band, the largest New World swift. Found from Mexico to southern Brazil and the Caribbean. Aerial insectivore, foraging in large, noisy flocks over forests and cities. Nests behind waterfalls and in caves.