White-throated Needletail vs Alpine Swift

Hirundapus caudacutus مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة White-throated Needletail Alpine Swift
الاسم العلمي Hirundapus caudacutus Tachymarptis melba
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 41,2 cm (16.2 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
الوزن 101,475 g (3.58 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
النظام الغذائي High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
عدد البيض في الوضع 2-7 1-4
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

White-throated Needletail only

Alpine Swift only

بلا

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Song & Call Comparison

White-throated Needletail

الغناء

Powerful, loud churring rattle descending in pitch; deep resonant trill audible from great distance, forceful and sustained.

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

White-throated Needletail

Breeds in Siberia, China, Japan, and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Australasia and Southeast Asia. Breeds in forests and cliffs.

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

White-throated Needletail

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

White-throated Needletail

الريش

Large; dark blackish-brown upperparts with metallic green gloss; white throat and undertail coverts; pale white back saddle between wings; short spiny tail; one of the world's fastest birds; white throat …

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

White-throated Needletail

A large needletail swift (19-20 cm, wingspan 50-55 cm) with powerful, rapid flight. Dark brown plumage with a white throat and undertail. Spine-tipped tail. Breeds in forests of eastern Asia from Siberia to Australia. One of the fastest flying birds, reaching speeds over 160 km/h.

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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