Common Swift vs Great Dusky Swift
Apus apus comparé à Cypseloides senex
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Swift | Great Dusky Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Apus apus | Cypseloides senex |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 32,3 cm (12.7 in) | 33,8 cm (13.3 in) |
| Poids | 41,5 g (1.46 oz) | 83,0 g (2.93 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Common Swift
Crisp, two-noted call: quick sharp chip followed by descending whistle; distinctive pattern repeated at measured intervals.
Great Dusky Swift
Loud, churring trill; harsher and louder than other Cypseloides; calls over Iguacu Falls and major Neotropical waterfalls; buzzy 'bzzzt-bzzzt' in aerial groups
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Swift
Breeds across Europe and Asia from the British Isles east to Siberia and China. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.
Great Dusky Swift
Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.
Statut de conservation
Common Swift
Great Dusky Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Swift
Uniformly blackish-brown above and below; pale whitish throat patch; slightly forked tail; no other pale markings; sexes identical; the archetypal swift shape with scythe-like wings; widespread Palearctic breeder and Sub-Saharan …
Great Dusky Swift
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 …
About These Birds
Common Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm, wingspan 42-48 cm) with dark blackish-brown plumage and a pale throat. One of the most aerial of all birds, spending nearly its entire life on the wing, sleeping, eating, and even mating in flight. Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
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.