White-rumped Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift

Aerodramus spodiopygius مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba

Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة White-rumped Swiftlet Alpine Swift
الاسم العلمي Aerodramus spodiopygius Tachymarptis melba
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 23,4 cm (9.2 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
الوزن 7,4 g (0.26 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

Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

White-rumped Swiftlet only

Alpine Swift only

بلا

Song & Call Comparison

White-rumped Swiftlet

الغناء

Rapid thin twittering; high 'tsit-tsit' notes over Pacific islands; echolocation clicks in caves; colonial; produces soft chattering in roost cavities; unremarkable call

Alpine Swift

الغناء

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

Geographic Range & Migration

White-rumped Swiftlet

Found across the southwestern Pacific including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu east to the Cook Islands. Resident from coast to mountains.

Alpine Swift

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

حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

White-rumped Swiftlet

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

White-rumped Swiftlet

الريش

Small; dark brownish-black upperparts with faint gloss; white rump patch contrasting sharply with dark back and tail; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; widespread Pacific species with diagnostically bright white rump.

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 …

About These Birds

White-rumped Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) widespread across the western Pacific from the Bismarck Archipelago to Fiji and Samoa. Dark plumage with a conspicuous white rump band. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. One of the most widespread Pacific swiftlets.

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.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family