Rothschild's Swift vs Alpine Swift
Cypseloides rothschildi compared with Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rothschild's Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cypseloides rothschildi | Tachymarptis melba |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.6 cm (12.0 in) | 43.9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 43.0 g (1.52 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 | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Rothschild's Swift
Thin, buzzy twittering in flight; soft 'tsee-tsee' contact notes; calls over Andean waterfalls; quiet and unobtrusive vocally; high-pitched but weak; rarely heard
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rothschild's Swift
Found in the Andes of northwestern Argentina and adjacent Bolivia at 1,500–3,000 m. Very poorly known; nests near waterfalls in humid forest.
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
Rothschild's Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Rothschild's Swift
Blackish-brown overall with subtle pale scaling on throat and forehead; underparts slightly paler brownish; no contrasting white markings; robust-bodied Andean swift distinguished from Sooty Swift by faint pale throat scaling.
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
Rothschild's Swift
A medium-sized swift (15-16 cm) found in montane forests of northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia at 1,000-3,000 m elevation. Dark sooty plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested valleys. Nests behind waterfalls. Uncommon and local; named after Walter Rothschild.
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.