Blyth's Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus leuconyx compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blyth's Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus leuconyx | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 42.949999999999996 g (1.52 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial insectivore; takes small flies, beetles, and aerial spiders in swooping fast-flight passes. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Blyth's Swift
Loud, piercing screech with shrill metallic quality; powerful prolonged calls audible from considerable distances in open sky.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blyth's Swift
Found from Central Asia and the Himalayas east to China and southeastern Russia. Migratory; winters in South and Southeast Asia.
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
Blyth's Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Blyth's Swift
Dark blackish-brown upperparts; white rump patch; white throat; underparts dark brown; deeply forked tail; recently described species closely related to Pacific Swift; separation based on molecular and biometric characters.
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
Blyth's Swift
A medium-sized swift found in montane regions of Central and East Asia. Dark plumage with a white chin patch. Aerial insectivore, foraging over mountain valleys and cliffs. Named after Edward Blyth. Breeds in rock crevices on high cliffs. Poorly known migratory patterns.
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.