Western Glossy Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Collocalia affinis verglichen mit Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Western Glossy Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Collocalia affinis | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordnung | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familie | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | — | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Gewicht | 8,65 g (0.31 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Ernährung | Aerial insectivore consuming minute dipterans, midges, and ballooning spiders caught in continuous fast flight. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Gelegegröße | 1-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Western Glossy Swiftlet
High, thin 'tsit-tsit'; rapid chittering in flight; echolocation clicks used inside caves; tiny size produces very high-pitched thin calls; soft twittering over forest
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Western Glossy Swiftlet
Found from the Andaman Islands and northeastern India through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Resident in diverse forest habitats.
Alpine Swift
Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Erhaltungsstatus
Western Glossy Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Western Glossy Swiftlet
Tiny; glossy blue-black upperparts with green iridescence; underparts dark sooty-grey; white-buff rump band; deeply forked tail; recently split taxon similar to Philippine Glossy Swiftlet but with subtly different rump and …
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
Western Glossy Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) found in lowland and hill forests of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Glossy blue-black upperparts with a paler rump. Aerial insectivore, feeding on tiny flying insects. Colonial nester in caves and buildings.
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.