Sick's Swift vs Short-tailed Swift

Sick's Swift and Short-tailed Swift are both brown swifts, but they can be distinguished by their tail length and structure. Sick's Swift has a longer tail compared to the notably short tail of the Short-tailed Swift.

Look for the tail length: Sick's Swift has a relatively longer tail, while the Short-tailed Swift has a distinctly short tail. Use this feature as the primary distinguishing mark when observing these species in the field.

Both species are entirely brown, making plumage a less reliable field mark for differentiation.