Whiskered Treeswift vs Moustached Treeswift
Hemiprocne comata compared with Hemiprocne mystacea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whiskered Treeswift | Moustached Treeswift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemiprocne comata | Hemiprocne mystacea |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Hemiprocnidae | Hemiprocnidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.8 cm (10.2 in) | 43.3 cm (17.0 in) |
| Weight | 21.05 g (0.74 oz) | 70.16666666666667 g (2.48 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore launching from a treetop perch to hawk flies, beetles, and small flying insects; … | Sally-hunting aerial insectivore taking flies, beetles, and winged ants from an exposed tree perch; not … |
| 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
Moustached Treeswift
Loud, screaming 'kreee-kreee'; powerful shrill calls from New Guinea forest edge; largest treeswift; calls from exposed high perch; alarm a rapid piercing 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.
Moustached Treeswift
Found from the Moluccas and New Guinea east through the Bismarcks and Solomons to Micronesia. Resident in forest edge and open areas.
Conservation Status
Whiskered Treeswift
Moustached 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.
Moustached Treeswift
Large treeswift; dark blackish-grey upperparts with greenish gloss; bold white supercilium and long white postocular stripe forming moustache; chestnut ear coverts in male; white underparts; deeply forked long tail; Australasian …
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.
Moustached Treeswift
A medium-sized treeswift (25-30 cm) with a large, swept-back crest and a distinctive white streak from the eye. Found in forests and forest edges from the Moluccas through New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. Aerial insectivore, often seen perching on high bare branches. The largest treeswift.