Lesser Antillean Swift vs Alpine Swift

Chaetura martinica مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Lesser Antillean Swift Alpine Swift
الاسم العلمي Chaetura martinica Tachymarptis melba
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 21,6 cm (8.5 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
الوزن 12,6 g (0.44 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
النظام الغذائي Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
عدد البيض في الوضع 3 1-4
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

Lesser Antillean Swift only

Alpine Swift only

بلا

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Song & Call Comparison

Lesser Antillean Swift

الغناء

Sharp, high-pitched squeaking in rapid succession; excited twittering with melodic inflection rising near breeding colony.

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

Lesser Antillean Swift

Found in the Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe and Dominica south to St. Vincent and Grenada. Resident in forest and open areas.

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

Lesser Antillean Swift

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Lesser Antillean Swift

الريش

Small; dark sooty-brown overall; pale grey-brown rump slightly paler than back; underparts grey-brown; short spiny tail; Lesser Antilles endemic; very similar to Chapman's Swift but smaller and island-restricted with subtly …

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

Lesser Antillean Swift

A small swift (11 cm) endemic to the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. Dark plumage with a grey rump. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested mountains and volcanic peaks. Found on Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and St. Lucia.

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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