Marquesas Swiftlet vs Great Dusky Swift

Aerodramus ocistus comparé à Cypseloides senex

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Marquesas Swiftlet Great Dusky Swift
Nom scientifique Aerodramus ocistus Cypseloides senex
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Apodidae Apodidae
Statut de conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 33,8 cm (13.3 in)
Poids 9,5 g (0.34 oz) 83,0 g (2.93 oz)
Régime alimentaire Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial …
Taille de la couvée 1 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Marquesas Swiftlet only

Great Dusky Swift only

Aucun(e)

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Song & Call Comparison

Marquesas Swiftlet

Chant

High thin twittering; 'chip-chip' over Marquesas Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; poorly documented; thin high-pitched calls typical of small Pacific swiftlets

Great Dusky Swift

Chant

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

Marquesas Swiftlet

Endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Resident on major islands including Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. Nests in sea caves.

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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Statut de conservation

Not Evaluated

Marquesas Swiftlet

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Marquesas Swiftlet

Plumage

Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale grey-white; forked tail; Marquesas Islands endemic in French Polynesia; closely related to Polynesian Swiftlet but isolated on its own archipelago.

Great Dusky Swift

Plumage

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

Marquesas Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Population restricted to a few volcanic islands in the central Pacific. Classified as Endangered due to extremely limited range.

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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