Cave Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Collocalia linchi verglichen mit Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Cave Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Collocalia linchi | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordnung | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familie | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 18,7 cm (7.4 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Gewicht | 6,05 g (0.21 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Ernährung | Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Gelegegröße | 2 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cave Swiftlet
Soft, rapid twittering; thin 'tsit-tsit' over Javan forests; audible echolocation clicks inside caves; colonial; produces squeaky chattering at roost sites; calls weakly in flight
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cave Swiftlet
Found in Sumatra, Java, Bali, and surrounding Indonesian islands. Resident in forest, cultivated land, and villages. Nests in rock crevices.
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
Cave Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Cave Swiftlet
Tiny; dark blue-black upperparts with faint gloss; pale greyish rump band; underparts whitish with grey-buff flanks; moderately forked tail; widespread in caves across Sundaland; less glossy and less white below …
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
Cave Swiftlet
A very small swiftlet (9 cm) found in Java, Bali, Sumatra, and the Lesser Sundas. Dark glossy plumage with a pale rump band. Aerial insectivore, foraging in flocks. One of the primary nest-producing swiftlets; its edible nests (made of saliva) are commercially harvested.
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.