White-throated Needletail vs White-collared Swift
Hirundapus caudacutus compared with Streptoprocne zonaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-throated Needletail | White-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hirundapus caudacutus | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.2 cm (16.2 in) | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 101.475 g (3.58 oz) | 106.45 g (3.75 oz) |
| Diet | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. | Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-throated Needletail
Powerful, loud churring rattle descending in pitch; deep resonant trill audible from great distance, forceful and sustained.
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-throated Needletail
Breeds in Siberia, China, Japan, and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Australasia and Southeast Asia. Breeds in forests and cliffs.
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-throated Needletail
White-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 …
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-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.
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.