Bradfield's Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus bradfieldi compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bradfield's Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus bradfieldi | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 35.2 cm (13.9 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 44.25 g (1.56 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Entirely aerial insectivore consuming swarms of tiny flies, winged ants, and ballooning spiders on the … | 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
Bradfield's Swift
Pure, whistled two-note phrase; first note high and sustained, second lower and brief, repeated every few seconds clearly.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bradfield's Swift
Found in Namibia and adjacent parts of South Africa, Botswana, and Angola. Resident in rocky desert, escarpment cliffs, and semi-arid terrain.
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
Bradfield's Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Bradfield's Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale greyish throat patch; underparts slightly paler; large for an African Apus swift; Southern Africa dry-country specialist; slightly larger and greyer-toned than Pallid Swift with less pale …
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
Bradfield's Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm) found in arid rocky regions of southwestern Africa (Namibia, Angola, western South Africa). Pale sandy-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over arid gorges and escarpments. Named after R.D.M. Bradfield. A southern African near-endemic.
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.