White-throated Needletail vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Hirundapus caudacutus compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-throated Needletail | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hirundapus caudacutus | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.2 cm (16.2 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 101.475 g (3.58 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
White-throated Needletail only
Chestnut-collared Swift only
None
Song & Call Comparison
White-throated Needletail
Powerful, loud churring rattle descending in pitch; deep resonant trill audible from great distance, forceful and sustained.
Chestnut-collared Swift
High, screaming trill; rapid 'scree-scree' in flight; shrill and penetrating; calls over Neotropical mountains and canyon edges; alarm a rapid screeching chatter
Geographic Range & Migration
White-throated Needletail
Breeds in Siberia, China, Japan, and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Australasia and Southeast Asia. Breeds in forests and cliffs.
Chestnut-collared Swift
Found from Mexico and the Caribbean south through Central America and South America to Argentina. Resident in highlands near mountain cliffs.
Conservation Status
White-throated Needletail
Chestnut-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
White-throated Needletail
Large; dark blackish-brown upperparts with metallic green gloss; white throat and undertail coverts; pale white back saddle between wings; short spiny tail; one of the world's fastest birds; white throat …
Chestnut-collared Swift
Dark blackish-brown body with diagnostic rich chestnut collar encircling entire neck; collar bold and complete; underparts slightly paler brown; small swift with striking warm-toned neck band contrasting vividly with dark …
About These Birds
White-throated Needletail
A large needletail swift (19-20 cm, wingspan 50-55 cm) with powerful, rapid flight. Dark brown plumage with a white throat and undertail. Spine-tipped tail. Breeds in forests of eastern Asia from Siberia to Australia. One of the fastest flying birds, reaching speeds over 160 km/h.
Chestnut-collared Swift
A small swift (13-14 cm) found from Mexico through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Dark plumage with a distinctive chestnut collar and throat. Aerial insectivore, often foraging in mixed-species swift flocks over forests and highlands.