Great Dusky Swift vs Papuan Spinetail
Cypseloides senex comparé à Mearnsia novaeguineae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Great Dusky Swift | Papuan Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Cypseloides senex | Mearnsia novaeguineae |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 33,8 cm (13.3 in) | 26,0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Poids | 83,0 g (2.93 oz) | 34,0 g (1.20 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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
Papuan Spinetail
Rapid buzzy twittering; sharp 'tsit-tsit-tsit' in low speedy flight; calls in tight flocks over New Guinea forest and rivers; wings produce audible whirring sound in fast flight
Geographic Range & Migration
Great Dusky Swift
Found in eastern South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Bolivia and Paraguay. Resident near rocky cliffs and waterfalls.
Papuan Spinetail
Found in New Guinea from the northern coast to central ranges. Resident in lowland and hill forest along rivers and forest edge up to 1,500 m.
Statut de conservation
Great Dusky Swift
Papuan Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Papuan Spinetail
Dark blackish-brown upperparts; paler brownish-grey underparts; pale chin; short spiny tail with projecting shaft tips; New Guinea species; larger than Philippine Spinetail with broader wings relative to body; robust spinetail …
About These Birds
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.
Papuan Spinetail
A large spinetail swift (12-14 cm) found in New Guinea and nearby islands. Dark plumage with spine-tipped tail feathers used for bracing against vertical surfaces. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest. Nests in tree hollows. Limited ecological data.