Indian Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus unicolor compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aerodramus unicolor | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.7 cm (8.9 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 11.0 g (0.39 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Tiny aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; congregates where insects emerge over water. | 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
Indian Swiftlet
Rapid, thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' calls over South Indian hills; audible echolocation clicks in cave roosts; colonial; calls softly in flight; noisy at roost entrances
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Swiftlet
Found in Sri Lanka and southwestern India. Resident in hills and lowlands, nesting in rock crevices on cliff faces up to 2,000 m elevation.
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
Indian Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Indian Swiftlet
Small; uniformly dark blackish-brown throughout with minimal gloss; rump barely paler than back or concolorous; underparts dark grey-brown; forked tail; South Indian and Sri Lankan endemic with exceptionally uniform dark …
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
Indian Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) found across the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Dark grey-brown plumage with slightly paler underparts. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forests, towns, and agricultural land. Colonial nester in caves and buildings. Uses simple echolocation clicks.
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.