Forbes-Watson's Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus berliozi compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Forbes-Watson's Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus berliozi | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 43.166666666666664 g (1.52 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial feeder on small insects and arachnids; catches prey in a wide gape during … | 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
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Rapid, buzzy chatter descending at end; rough staccato notes spilling quickly with emphatic final chip before silence.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Breeds in the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa from Somalia south to Tanzania. Partially migratory; range and taxonomy incompletely understood.
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
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall with pale buff throat patch; underparts slightly paler brown; Socotra Island and East African coast species; plumage similar to African Swift but slightly paler throat and restricted …
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
Forbes-Watson's Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) found in arid coastal regions from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and northwestern Indian Ocean islands. Pale brown plumage with a large white throat patch. Aerial insectivore. Named after the German zoologist Rudolf Berlioz.
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.