Himalayan Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus brevirostris compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Himalayan Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus brevirostris | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.6 cm (9.7 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 12.65 g (0.45 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Small aerial insectivore feeding on minute flying insects and spiders; forages over forest canopy and … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Himalayan Swiftlet
Thin twittering calls; 'chip-chip' over Himalayan valleys; audible echolocation clicks in caves; moderate-pitched; colonial roosts produce chattering; calls in swift flocks at dusk
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Himalayan Swiftlet
Breeds in the Himalayas from India to southern China and Indochina. Partially migratory, wintering south to peninsular India and Southeast Asia.
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
Himalayan Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Himalayan Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts with faint gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts whitish-grey; forked tail; Himalayan and Southeast Asian highlands species; slightly browner than Black-nest Swiftlet with proportionally narrower rump …
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
Himalayan Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (13-14 cm) found along the Himalayan foothills from Nepal through Southeast Asia to Indochina. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested valleys. Colonial cave nester. The largest member of the echolocating swiftlet genus.
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.