Great Dusky Swift vs Philippine Spinetail

Cypseloides senex comparado com Mearnsia picina

Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Great Dusky Swift Philippine Spinetail
Nome científico Cypseloides senex Mearnsia picina
Ordem Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Família Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservação Least Concern Near Threatened
Comprimento
Envergadura 33,8 cm (13.3 in) 32,3 cm (12.7 in)
Peso 83,0 g (2.93 oz) 11,5 g (0.41 oz)
Dieta Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … Aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; forages at speed over forest and open …
Tamanho da postura 1-2 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partilhados

Great Dusky Swift only

Nenhum

Philippine Spinetail only

Nenhum

Song & Call Comparison

Great Dusky Swift

Canto

Loud, churring trill; harsher and louder than other Cypseloides; calls over Iguacu Falls and major Neotropical waterfalls; buzzy 'bzzzt-bzzzt' in aerial groups

Philippine Spinetail

Canto

High-pitched, buzzy twittering; sharp 'tsit-tsit' in fast low-level flight over Philippine forest; calls rapidly in tight flocks; distinctive wing sound in fast aerial display

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.

Philippine Spinetail

Endemic to the Philippines, found on Mindanao and adjacent southern islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and edge. Uncommon.

Estado de conservação

Least Concern

Great Dusky Swift

Near Threatened

Philippine Spinetail

How to Tell Them Apart

Great Dusky Swift

Plumagem

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 …

Philippine Spinetail

Plumagem

Tiny but long-winged; dark blackish-brown overall; pale grey-white throat and chin; short spiny tail projections visible at close range; Philippine endemic; small size contrasts with proportionally very long scythe-like wings.

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.

Philippine Spinetail

A large spinetail swift (12-13 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Dark plumage with short, spine-tipped tail feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging over lowland and montane forest. Colonial nester in tree hollows and cliff crevices. Uncommon and poorly studied.

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