House Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus nipalensis compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | House Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apus nipalensis | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 28.15 g (0.99 oz) | 97.5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Diet | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Clutch Size | 1-5 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
House Swift
Soft, melodic warbling phrase with flowing quality; gentle notes weaving smoothly, typical of damp tropical forest mornings.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
House Swift
Found from Afghanistan east through South and Southeast Asia to Japan and Indonesia. Common in urban areas and hill country up to 2,500 m.
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
House Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
House Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown; white rump patch; white throat; underparts dark; square-ended tail; East and Southeast Asian colonial swift; closely resembles Little Swift but slightly larger and marginally different in rump …
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
House Swift
A small swift (13-15 cm) found across South and Southeast Asia from Japan through China to Indonesia. Dark plumage with a white rump and square tail. Aerial insectivore. Colonial nester on buildings, bridges, and cliffs. Very common in Asian cities and towns.
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.