White-naped Swift vs Black Spinetail
Streptoprocne semicollaris compared with Telacanthura melanopygia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-naped Swift | Black Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Streptoprocne semicollaris | Telacanthura melanopygia |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.4 cm (17.5 in) | 32.4 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 175.0 g (6.17 oz) | 52.0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Diet | Exclusively aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and spiders drifting in aerial plankton at altitude. | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-naped Swift
Very loud screaming trill; deep, powerful 'shreee' from Mexico's largest swift; calls over cliffs and canyons; impressive volume; deeper than White-collared Swift
Black Spinetail
Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-naped Swift
Endemic to Mexico from Nayarit south to Oaxaca. Found in montane forest and canyons at 1,000–3,000 m. Nests behind waterfalls.
Black Spinetail
Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.
Conservation Status
White-naped Swift
Black Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
White-naped Swift
Very large; entirely black with white patch restricted to nape only, not forming a full collar; large square tail; Mexican endemic and the largest swift in Middle America; white nape …
Black Spinetail
Large; entirely black plumage with slight gloss; black rump unlike white-rumped congeners; underparts dark; spiny tail; West African forest species; all-black coloration with no contrasting markings distinguishes it from all …
About These Birds
White-naped Swift
A large swift (20-22 cm) endemic to Mexico, found in montane regions from Nayarit to Guerrero. Dark plumage with a white half-collar on the nape. Aerial insectivore, foraging over pine-oak forests and barrancas. Nests in large cave colonies. Near Threatened due to limited range.
Black Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) of lowland rainforests in West and Central Africa. All-dark plumage. Spine-tipped tail for bracing against tree trunks. Aerial insectivore, foraging above the forest canopy. Nests inside hollow trees. Uncommon and seldom observed.