Caroline Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift

Aerodramus inquietus verglichen mit Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Caroline Swiftlet Alpine Swift
Wissenschaftlicher Name Aerodramus inquietus Tachymarptis melba
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Apodidae Apodidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 22,8 cm (9.0 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
Gewicht 11,0 g (0.39 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
Ernährung Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
Gelegegröße 1-2 1-4
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

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Caroline Swiftlet only

Alpine Swift only

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Song & Call Comparison

Caroline Swiftlet

Gesang

Thin twittering calls; 'tsit-tsit' over Caroline Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; moderate-pitched for swiftlet; produces soft chattering at colonial nesting sites

Alpine Swift

Gesang

Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Caroline Swiftlet

Found across the Caroline Islands of Micronesia including Pohnpei and Chuuk. Resident in lowland forest and cave systems.

Alpine Swift

Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

Caroline Swiftlet

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Caroline Swiftlet

Gefieder

Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; Micronesian endemic from Caroline Islands; very similar to Palau Swiftlet but distributed on a distinct island group.

Alpine Swift

Gefieder

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 …

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About These Birds

Caroline Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Caroline Islands of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae). Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial cave nester. Restricted to a few high volcanic islands in the western Pacific.

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.

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