Ameline Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus amelis compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ameline Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus amelis | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 17.9 g (0.63 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial feeder on microscopic flying insects and spiders; highly social forager over tropical forest. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Ameline Swiftlet
High twittering; thin 'tsit' calls; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; poorly documented species; slightly larger than most swiftlets; calls faintly over island habitats
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ameline Swiftlet
Found on Ambon and the southern Moluccas of Indonesia. Closely related to Uniform Swiftlet; restricted to Moluccan lowlands and hills.
Alpine Swift
Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Conservation Status
Ameline Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Ameline Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale grey rump band; underparts pale whitish-grey; forked tail; recently described Wallacean swiftlet from the Sulawesi region; larger than most swiftlets in the area with well-defined …
Alpine Swift
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
Ameline Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11 cm) found in the Philippines and parts of Indonesia. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Recently split from Uniform Swiftlet. Taxonomy and distribution boundaries still being clarified by ornithologists.
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.