Philippine Swiftlet vs Great Dusky Swift

Aerodramus mearnsi comparado con Cypseloides senex

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Philippine Swiftlet Great Dusky Swift
Nombre científico Aerodramus mearnsi Cypseloides senex
Orden Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familia Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 21,8 cm (8.6 in) 33,8 cm (13.3 in)
Peso 11,5 g (0.41 oz) 83,0 g (2.93 oz)
Dieta Obligate aerial feeder on microscopic flying insects and spiders; highly social forager over tropical forest. Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial …
Tamaño de la puesta 4 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Philippine Swiftlet only

Ninguno

Great Dusky Swift only

Ninguno

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Song & Call Comparison

Philippine Swiftlet

Canto

High twittering trill; thin 'tsit-tsit' notes over Philippine mountains; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; calls softly; flock produces chattering at roost; unremarkable vocalizations

Great Dusky Swift

Canto

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

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Geographic Range & Migration

Philippine Swiftlet

Endemic to the Philippines, found on Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas.

Great Dusky Swift

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

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Estado de conservación

Least Concern

Philippine Swiftlet

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Philippine Swiftlet

Plumaje

Small; dark grey-brown upperparts with faint gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts greyish-white; moderately forked tail; Philippine endemic using echolocation; echolocation ability distinguishes Aerodramus from Collocalia swiftlets.

Great Dusky Swift

Plumaje

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 …

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About These Birds

Philippine Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Uses echolocation for navigating dark cave interiors. Found across the major Philippine island groups. Poorly studied ecology.

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.

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