Little Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus affinis مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| السمة | Little Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| الاسم العلمي | Apus affinis | Tachymarptis melba |
| الرتبة | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| الفصيلة | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| حالة الحفاظ | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| الطول | — | — |
| طول الجناح | 25,3 cm (10.0 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| الوزن | 25,0 g (0.88 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| النظام الغذائي | Exclusively aerial diet; consumes tiny flying insects and spiders, sometimes following insect swarms for km. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| عدد البيض في الوضع | 1-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Little Swift
Harsh, crackling chatter with emphatic rhythm; series of rough notes delivered at pace with occasional sharp screech.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Little Swift
Found across Africa and Asia from Senegal east to India and Sri Lanka, and southeast to Southeast Asia. Common in urban areas and open country.
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
Little Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Little Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown; large white rump patch; white throat; underparts dark; square-ended tail; widespread from Africa to Asia; the large square white rump patch and square tail distinguish it from …
Alpine Swift
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
Little Swift
A small swift (12-13 cm) widespread across the Old World tropics from Africa through Asia to Australasia. Dark plumage with a white rump and broad, square tail. Aerial insectivore. Commonly nests in colonies on buildings and bridges. One of the most familiar swifts in tropical towns.
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.