Christmas Island Swiftlet vs Great Dusky Swift

Collocalia natalis comparé à Cypseloides senex

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Christmas Island Swiftlet Great Dusky Swift
Nom scientifique Collocalia natalis Cypseloides senex
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Apodidae Apodidae
Statut de conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 33,8 cm (13.3 in)
Poids 4,75 g (0.17 oz) 83,0 g (2.93 oz)
Régime alimentaire Aerial plankton feeder taking tiny midges, fungus gnats, and ballooning spiders in rapid coursing flights. Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial …
Taille de la couvée 2 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Christmas Island Swiftlet only

Aucun(e)

Great Dusky Swift only

Aucun(e)

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Song & Call Comparison

Christmas Island Swiftlet

Chant

Very high, thin twittering; 'chip' notes over Christmas Island forest; audible echolocation clicks in sea cave roosts; one of smallest swiftlets; barely audible to humans

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

Christmas Island Swiftlet

Endemic to Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. Resident in forested areas. Small population vulnerable to introduced predators.

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

Christmas Island Swiftlet

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Christmas Island Swiftlet

Plumage

Tiny; dark brownish-black upperparts with minimal gloss; pale grey-buff rump band; greyish-white underparts; forked tail; Christmas Island endemic; differs from Cave Swiftlet in duller upperparts and restricted oceanic island range.

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

Christmas Island Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (12 cm) endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Dark plumage with a slightly forked tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging over the island's rainforest canopy. Colonial cave nester. Population estimated at 6,000-8,000 individuals. Classified as Vulnerable.

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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