White-collared Swift vs Black Spinetail

Streptoprocne zonaris verglichen mit Telacanthura melanopygia

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal White-collared Swift Black Spinetail
Wissenschaftlicher Name Streptoprocne zonaris Telacanthura melanopygia
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Apodidae Apodidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 42,5 cm (16.7 in) 32,4 cm (12.8 in)
Gewicht 106,45 g (3.75 oz) 52,0 g (1.83 oz)
Ernährung Obligate aerial insectivore; gathers small flying insects, winged ants, and airborne spiders during flight. High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight.
Gelegegröße 2 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

White-collared Swift only

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Black Spinetail only

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Song & Call Comparison

White-collared Swift

Gesang

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

Black Spinetail

Gesang

Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.

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Geographic Range & Migration

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.

Black Spinetail

Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

White-collared Swift

Least Concern

Black Spinetail

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How to Tell Them Apart

White-collared Swift

Gefieder

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 …

Black Spinetail

Gefieder

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 …

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About These Birds

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.

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.

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