Whiskered Treeswift vs Grey-rumped Treeswift
Hemiprocne comata compared with Hemiprocne longipennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whiskered Treeswift | Grey-rumped Treeswift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemiprocne comata | Hemiprocne longipennis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Hemiprocnidae | Hemiprocnidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.8 cm (10.2 in) | 33.5 cm (13.2 in) |
| Weight | 21.05 g (0.74 oz) | 35.9 g (1.27 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore launching from a treetop perch to hawk flies, beetles, and small flying insects; … | Perch-sallying aerial hunter catching small flying insects, including flies and beetles, in swift low-altitude pursuits. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Whiskered Treeswift
Sharp, high-pitched 'kik-kik'; thin metallic calls; smaller size produces higher, thinner calls than other treeswifts; calls from Borneo canopy; rapid repetition when alarmed
Grey-rumped Treeswift
High, screaming 'keeer-keeer'; shrill piercing calls from forest canopy; metallic quality; calls from prominent high perch in Southeast Asian forest; alarm a sharp scream
Geographic Range & Migration
Whiskered Treeswift
Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula south through Sumatra, Borneo, and the Philippines. Resident in lowland and hill forest up to 1,000 m.
Grey-rumped Treeswift
Found from southern India through the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Resident in open forest and forest edge.
Conservation Status
Whiskered Treeswift
Grey-rumped Treeswift
How to Tell Them Apart
Whiskered Treeswift
Tiny treeswift; males glossy blue-black above; bold white supercilium and white postocular stripe resemble whiskers; chestnut ear patch; underparts white; females similar minus chestnut; smallest treeswift with striking facial contrast.
Grey-rumped Treeswift
Males dark blue-grey upperparts with grey rump; chestnut ear coverts; white supercilium; underparts whitish with pale grey flanks; females lack chestnut ear patch; notably pale grey rump contrasts with darker …
About These Birds
Whiskered Treeswift
A small treeswift (15-16 cm) with prominent white facial whiskers and a deeply forked tail. Dark plumage with metallic green sheen. Found in lowland and montane forests of Southeast Asia. Aerial insectivore, perching delicately on thin branches in the forest canopy.
Grey-rumped Treeswift
A medium-sized treeswift (20-23 cm) found in lowland forests of Southeast Asia from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo and the Philippines. Dark brown plumage with a contrasting grey rump. Aerial insectivore, often perching conspicuously on high exposed branches in small groups.