Malagasy Palm Swift vs Alpine Swift

Cypsiurus gracilis مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Malagasy Palm Swift Alpine Swift
الاسم العلمي Cypsiurus gracilis Tachymarptis melba
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 24,8 cm (9.8 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
الوزن 12,0 g (0.42 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
النظام الغذائي Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. 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
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

Malagasy Palm Swift only

Alpine Swift only

بلا

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Song & Call Comparison

Malagasy Palm Swift

الغناء

Sharp, emphatic chip followed by buzzy rattle; staccato delivery with rising inflection at end of each phrase sequence.

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

Malagasy Palm Swift

Found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Resident in open areas with palms and forest edge across Madagascar.

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

Malagasy Palm Swift

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Malagasy Palm Swift

الريش

Slender; pale grey-brown overall; underparts slightly paler; long deeply forked tail; Malagasy endemic; very similar to African Palm Swift in uniform pale brown coloration but slightly smaller and confined to …

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

Malagasy Palm Swift

A slender swift (15-16 cm) endemic to Madagascar. Dark brown plumage with a deeply forked tail. Closely related to African Palm Swift. Aerial insectivore, foraging over open country, towns, and along forest edges. Associated with Ravenala and other palms for nesting.

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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