White-throated Needletail vs Alpine Swift
Hirundapus caudacutus verglichen mit Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | White-throated Needletail | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Hirundapus caudacutus | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordnung | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familie | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 41,2 cm (16.2 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Gewicht | 101,475 g (3.58 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Ernährung | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Gelegegröße | 2-7 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-throated Needletail
Powerful, loud churring rattle descending in pitch; deep resonant trill audible from great distance, forceful and sustained.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-throated Needletail
Breeds in Siberia, China, Japan, and the Himalayas. Long-distance migrant wintering in Australasia and Southeast Asia. Breeds in forests and cliffs.
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
White-throated Needletail
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
White-throated Needletail
Large; dark blackish-brown upperparts with metallic green gloss; white throat and undertail coverts; pale white back saddle between wings; short spiny tail; one of the world's fastest birds; white throat …
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
White-throated Needletail
A large needletail swift (19-20 cm, wingspan 50-55 cm) with powerful, rapid flight. Dark brown plumage with a white throat and undertail. Spine-tipped tail. Breeds in forests of eastern Asia from Siberia to Australia. One of the fastest flying birds, reaching speeds over 160 km/h.
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.