Great Dusky Swift vs Madagascar Spinetail

Cypseloides senex verglichen mit Zoonavena grandidieri

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Great Dusky Swift Madagascar Spinetail
Wissenschaftlicher Name Cypseloides senex Zoonavena grandidieri
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Apodidae Apodidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 33,8 cm (13.3 in) 24,9 cm (9.8 in)
Gewicht 83,0 g (2.93 oz) 9,25 g (0.33 oz)
Ernährung Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … Obligate aerial forager on small insects and airborne spiders; among the fastest-flying of all swift …
Gelegegröße 1-2 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

Great Dusky Swift only

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Madagascar Spinetail only

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Song & Call Comparison

Great Dusky Swift

Gesang

Loud, churring trill; harsher and louder than other Cypseloides; calls over Iguacu Falls and major Neotropical waterfalls; buzzy 'bzzzt-bzzzt' in aerial groups

Madagascar Spinetail

Gesang

Rapid, high-pitched chittering calls in flight; thin, insect-like trilling notes delivered in quick bursts above forest canopy.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Great Dusky Swift

Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.

Madagascar Spinetail

Endemic to Madagascar. Resident in forest edge and open areas across the island. Nests in hollow palms and rock crevices.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

Least Concern

Madagascar Spinetail

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How to Tell Them Apart

Great Dusky Swift

Gefieder

Very large; entirely dark sooty-brown with pale grey forehead and chin scaling; slightly paler underparts; broad wings; largest Cypseloides swift; South American waterfall specialist with dusky uniform plumage and imposing …

Madagascar Spinetail

Gefieder

Tiny; dark brown-black upperparts; contrasting white rump patch; underparts pale whitish; short spiny tail; Malagasy endemic; white rump is the most diagnostic feature, recalling swiftlets but with characteristic spinetail tail …

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About These Birds

Great Dusky Swift

A large swift (18-20 cm) of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Dark sooty-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested gorges and waterfalls. Nests in large colonies behind waterfalls. The largest member of the genus Cypseloides.

Madagascar Spinetail

A medium-sized spinetail swift (12-13 cm) endemic to Madagascar. Dark plumage with a pale rump and short, spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest and woodland. Nests in tree hollows. Found throughout Madagascar's remaining forested areas.

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