Caroline Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift

Aerodramus inquietus مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Caroline Swiftlet Alpine Swift
الاسم العلمي Aerodramus inquietus Tachymarptis melba
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 22,8 cm (9.0 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
الوزن 11,0 g (0.39 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
النظام الغذائي Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
عدد البيض في الوضع 1-2 1-4
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

Caroline Swiftlet only

Alpine Swift only

بلا

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Song & Call Comparison

Caroline Swiftlet

الغناء

Thin twittering calls; 'tsit-tsit' over Caroline Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; moderate-pitched for swiftlet; produces soft chattering at colonial nesting sites

Alpine Swift

الغناء

Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Caroline Swiftlet

Found across the Caroline Islands of Micronesia including Pohnpei and Chuuk. Resident in lowland forest and cave systems.

Alpine Swift

Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Caroline Swiftlet

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Caroline Swiftlet

الريش

Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; Micronesian endemic from Caroline Islands; very similar to Palau Swiftlet but distributed on a distinct island group.

Alpine Swift

الريش

Large; dark brown upperparts; white throat patch separated from white belly by dark brown breast band; brown flanks; bold tricoloured underpart pattern; one of Europe's largest swifts with distinctive white …

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About These Birds

Caroline Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Caroline Islands of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae). Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial cave nester. Restricted to a few high volcanic islands in the western Pacific.

Alpine Swift

A large swift (20-22 cm, wingspan 54-60 cm) with a white belly and throat contrasting with dark brown upperparts. Found from southern Europe and Africa to Central Asia. Aerial insectivore, foraging at great heights. Nests on cliff faces in large colonies. Powerful, fast flier.

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