Philippine Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus mearnsi compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Philippine Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus mearnsi | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.8 cm (8.6 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 11.5 g (0.41 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 | 4 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Philippine Swiftlet
High twittering trill; thin 'tsit-tsit' notes over Philippine mountains; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; calls softly; flock produces chattering at roost; unremarkable vocalizations
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Philippine Swiftlet
Endemic to the Philippines, found on Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas.
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
Philippine Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Philippine Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts with faint gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts greyish-white; moderately forked tail; Philippine endemic using echolocation; echolocation ability distinguishes Aerodramus from Collocalia swiftlets.
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
Philippine Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Uses echolocation for navigating dark cave interiors. Found across the major Philippine island groups. Poorly studied ecology.
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.