White-chested Swift vs Brown-backed Needletail

Cypseloides lemosi comparado con Hirundapus giganteus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo White-chested Swift Brown-backed Needletail
Nombre científico Cypseloides lemosi Hirundapus giganteus
Orden Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familia Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 30,0 cm (11.8 in) 40,6 cm (16.0 in)
Peso 28,400000000000002 g (1.00 oz) 145,0 g (5.11 oz)
Dieta Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. Aerial insectivore feeding on tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders in rapid powerful aerial pursuit.
Tamaño de la puesta -- 3-5
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

White-chested Swift only

Brown-backed Needletail only

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Song & Call Comparison

White-chested Swift

Canto

High, thin twittering; soft 'tsit' calls in flight; calls over Colombian waterfalls; very poorly known; thin, reedy contact notes; one of most rarely documented swifts

Brown-backed Needletail

Canto

Rough, buzzy chatter with intermittent higher squeaks; coarse twittering delivered continuously throughout aerial foraging.

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Geographic Range & Migration

White-chested Swift

Known from Colombia and adjacent Ecuador. One of the world's rarest swifts; recorded at waterfalls in humid forest foothills at 500–1,200 m.

Brown-backed Needletail

Found from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Resident in lowland and hill forest, soaring over ridges.

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Estado de conservación

Least Concern

White-chested Swift

Least Concern

Brown-backed Needletail

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How to Tell Them Apart

White-chested Swift

Plumaje

Black upperparts and wings; distinctive large white chest patch contrasting sharply with black throat and belly; white confined to central breast; Colombian endemic with unique bold bicoloured plumage unlike any …

Brown-backed Needletail

Plumaje

Very large; dark brown upperparts with bronze gloss; no pale back saddle unlike congeners; white throat patch; white undertail coverts; short spiny tail; largest Hirundapus; brown rather than black overall …

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About These Birds

White-chested Swift

A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) endemic to the upper Cauca Valley of Colombia. Sooty-black plumage with a white breast patch. Aerial insectivore of subtropical forests. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.

Brown-backed Needletail

El vencejo de aguja marrón es el vencejo más grande del mundo, con una envergadura de hasta 58 cm. Habita en el sur y sudeste de Asia, desde India hasta las islas del Pacífico. Tiene alas largas y estrechas, una garganta marrón oscura y una mancha en la rabadilla. Captura insectos y arañas al vuelo. Anida en grietas de acantilados. A menudo se observa en grandes altitudes, especialmente sobre las montañas.

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