Dark-rumped Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus acuticauda compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Dark-rumped Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus acuticauda | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.8 cm (13.7 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 37.43 g (1.32 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore feeding on swarms of small flies, winged ants, and tiny beetles during sustained … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Dark-rumped Swift
Thin, high twittering with silvery sheen; rapid sequence of light notes with gentle tremolo quality at dawn and dusk.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Dark-rumped Swift
Found in northeastern India (Assam) and adjacent Myanmar. Rare and poorly known; found in forested hills and river valleys at moderate 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
Dark-rumped Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Dark-rumped Swift
Dark sooty-brown throughout with dark rump concolorous with back; no contrasting white rump patch; pale white throat; underparts dark brown; Himalayan endemic cliff-nester; dark rump contrasting with white-rumped relatives is …
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
Dark-rumped Swift
A medium-sized swift (17-18 cm) found in hill and montane regions of South and Southeast Asia, from the Himalayas to Indochina. Dark plumage with a contrasting dark rump. Aerial insectivore. Breeds on cliffs. Classified as Vulnerable due to limited breeding sites and habitat disturbance.
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.