Australian Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus terraereginae compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Australian Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus terraereginae | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.2 cm (8.7 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 11.2 g (0.40 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore catching tiny flying insects, midges, and airborne spiders in fast low-altitude flight near … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Australian Swiftlet
Rapid, chattering 'tsit-tsit'; thin twittering over Queensland coast; audible echolocation clicks in cave roosts; flock produces overlapping calls; only Australian cave-nesting swiftlet
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Australian Swiftlet
Found in northeastern Australia and New Guinea. Resident in lowland rainforest, forest edge, and open areas. Nests in caves and overhangs.
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
Australian Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Australian Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale grey-white rump band; underparts pale greyish; forked tail; Australian cave-nesting endemic using echolocation; closely resembles White-rumped Swiftlet but with narrower paler rump band.
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
Australian Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) found in northeastern Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. Grey-brown plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore, foraging over rainforest and woodland. Colonial nester in caves and abandoned mines. Uses echolocation. Australia's only breeding swiftlet.
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.