Lesser Antillean Swift vs Great Dusky Swift

Chaetura martinica comparado con Cypseloides senex

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Lesser Antillean Swift Great Dusky Swift
Nombre científico Chaetura martinica Cypseloides senex
Orden Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familia Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 21,6 cm (8.5 in) 33,8 cm (13.3 in)
Peso 12,6 g (0.44 oz) 83,0 g (2.93 oz)
Dieta Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial …
Tamaño de la puesta 3 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Lesser Antillean Swift only

Ninguno

Great Dusky Swift only

Ninguno

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Song & Call Comparison

Lesser Antillean Swift

Canto

Sharp, high-pitched squeaking in rapid succession; excited twittering with melodic inflection rising near breeding colony.

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

Lesser Antillean Swift

Found in the Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe and Dominica south to St. Vincent and Grenada. Resident in 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

Lesser Antillean Swift

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Lesser Antillean Swift

Plumaje

Small; dark sooty-brown overall; pale grey-brown rump slightly paler than back; underparts grey-brown; short spiny tail; Lesser Antilles endemic; very similar to Chapman's Swift but smaller and island-restricted with subtly …

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

Lesser Antillean Swift

Vencejo de las Antillas Menores (Chaetura martinica), 11 cm. Plumaje gris oscuro; rabadilla gris pálido. Cola corta. Endémico de las Antillas Menores (Martinica, Guadalupe, Dominica, Santa Lucía). Gregario; captura insectos en vuelo sobre bosques y zonas abiertas. Nidifica en huecos de árboles.

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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