White-throated Swift vs Alpine Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-throated Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aeronautes saxatalis | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.1 cm (11.1 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 34.03 g (1.20 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore relying entirely on flying insects (midges, gnats, small beetles) and airborne spiders. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
White-throated Swift only
Alpine Swift only
None
Song & Call Comparison
White-throated Swift
Sharp, whistled notes alternating with buzzy trills; crisp di-di-dit pattern repeated rhythmically during swift soaring flights.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-throated Swift
Found in western North America from British Columbia south through the Rocky Mountains to Central America. Partially migratory northward.
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-throated Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
White-throated Swift
Black upperparts; bold white throat and white flanks extending to white central underparts; black sides of breast and belly create striking tricoloured pattern; white lateral tail spots; Western North American …
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-throated Swift
A medium-sized swift (15-17 cm) with striking black and white plumage, unique among North American swifts. White throat, breast, and flank patches contrast with black body. Found in canyons and cliffs of western North America. Aerial insectivore; resident in southern range.
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.