White-naped Swift vs Alpine Swift

Streptoprocne semicollaris مقارنةً بـ Tachymarptis melba

Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة White-naped Swift Alpine Swift
الاسم العلمي Streptoprocne semicollaris Tachymarptis melba
الرتبة Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
الفصيلة Apodidae Apodidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 44,4 cm (17.5 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
الوزن 175,0 g (6.17 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
النظام الغذائي Exclusively aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and spiders drifting in aerial plankton at altitude. Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
عدد البيض في الوضع 2 1-4
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

White-naped Swift only

Alpine Swift only

بلا

Song & Call Comparison

White-naped Swift

الغناء

Very loud screaming trill; deep, powerful 'shreee' from Mexico's largest swift; calls over cliffs and canyons; impressive volume; deeper than White-collared Swift

Alpine Swift

الغناء

Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.

Geographic Range & Migration

White-naped Swift

Endemic to Mexico from Nayarit south to Oaxaca. Found in montane forest and canyons at 1,000–3,000 m. Nests behind waterfalls.

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

Least Concern

White-naped Swift

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

White-naped Swift

الريش

Very large; entirely black with white patch restricted to nape only, not forming a full collar; large square tail; Mexican endemic and the largest swift in Middle America; white nape …

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 …

About These Birds

White-naped Swift

A large swift (20-22 cm) endemic to Mexico, found in montane regions from Nayarit to Guerrero. Dark plumage with a white half-collar on the nape. Aerial insectivore, foraging over pine-oak forests and barrancas. Nests in large cave colonies. Near Threatened due to limited range.

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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