Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift vs Chestnut-collared Swift
Panyptila cayennensis compared with Streptoprocne rutila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift | Chestnut-collared Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Panyptila cayennensis | Streptoprocne rutila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.8 cm (9.4 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) | 21.8 g (0.77 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore feeding on swarms of small flies, winged ants, and tiny beetles during sustained … | Entirely airborne feeder on tiny flies, gnats, and airborne arachnids; one of the most aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Dry, clicking chatter interspersed with thin whistles; rapid mechanical trill delivered with persistent energy throughout day.
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
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Found from Mexico south through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in lowland and foothill forest edge.
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
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Chestnut-collared Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Black upperparts; white throat and white flanks; white rump patch; deeply forked long tail; smaller version of Great Swallow-tailed Swift; widespread from Mexico to South America; forked tail and bold …
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
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
A medium-sized swift (13-14 cm) with a moderately forked tail and white throat patch. Found from southern Mexico through Central America to Peru and Brazil. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. Nests under overhanging cliffs and bridges.
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.