Band-rumped Swift vs Alpine Swift

Chaetura spinicaudus مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Band-rumped Swift Alpine Swift
الاسم العلمي Chaetura spinicaudus Tachymarptis melba
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 20,7 cm (8.1 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
الوزن 16,4 g (0.58 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
النظام الغذائي Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
عدد البيض في الوضع -- 1-4
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

Band-rumped Swift only

Alpine Swift only

بلا

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Song & Call Comparison

Band-rumped Swift

الغناء

Raspy, churring call with hollow resonance; rough bursts of chattering notes interrupted by brief mechanical clicking sounds.

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

Band-rumped Swift

Found in Panama and northwestern South America from Colombia east to Venezuela and the Guianas, south to Brazil and Bolivia. Lowland forest.

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

Band-rumped Swift

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Band-rumped Swift

الريش

Small; sooty-brown overall with narrow pale grey-white rump band forming a distinct narrow transverse stripe; underparts dark grey-brown; short spiny tail; Amazonian species distinguished by the band-like narrow rump patch.

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

Band-rumped Swift

A small swift (11 cm) of lowland forests from Costa Rica to Brazil. Dark plumage with a conspicuous pale rump band. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore, foraging in flocks over forest canopy. Often seen near rivers and forest edges. Nests in hollow trees.

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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