White-rumped Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus spodiopygius compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-rumped Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus spodiopygius | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.4 cm (9.2 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 7.4 g (0.26 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … | 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
White-rumped Swiftlet
Rapid thin twittering; high 'tsit-tsit' notes over Pacific islands; echolocation clicks in caves; colonial; produces soft chattering in roost cavities; unremarkable call
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-rumped Swiftlet
Found across the southwestern Pacific including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu east to the Cook Islands. Resident from coast to mountains.
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
White-rumped Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
White-rumped Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-black upperparts with faint gloss; white rump patch contrasting sharply with dark back and tail; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; widespread Pacific species with diagnostically bright white 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
White-rumped Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) widespread across the western Pacific from the Bismarck Archipelago to Fiji and Samoa. Dark plumage with a conspicuous white rump band. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. One of the most widespread Pacific swiftlets.
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.