Moluccan Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus infuscatus compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Moluccan Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus infuscatus | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.2 cm (8.3 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 15.25 g (0.54 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial plankton specialist catching tiny flies, gnats, and airborne spiders in tight acrobatic flight. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Moluccan Swiftlet
Thin twittering; soft 'chip-chip' calls over Maluku islands; echolocation clicks in caves; moderate-pitched for swiftlet; colonial roosts noisy with overlapping calls
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Moluccan Swiftlet
Found on the Moluccan islands of Indonesia including Halmahera, Seram, and Ambon. Resident in forest and open habitats. Moluccan endemic.
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
Moluccan Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Moluccan Swiftlet
Small to medium; dark brown-grey upperparts with pale buff rump band; underparts pale whitish-grey; forked tail; North Moluccan endemic; slightly larger than many congeners with relatively prominent pale rump contrasting …
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
Moluccan Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11 cm) found in the Moluccan Islands of Indonesia. Dark brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Taxonomy has been revised several times; limited published ecological data.
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.