Andean Swift vs Alpine Swift

Aeronautes andecolus comparado con Tachymarptis melba

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Andean Swift Alpine Swift
Nombre científico Aeronautes andecolus Tachymarptis melba
Orden Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familia Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 28,0 cm (11.0 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
Peso 17,1 g (0.60 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
Dieta Entirely aerial insectivore consuming swarms of tiny flies, winged ants, and ballooning spiders on the … Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
Tamaño de la puesta -- 1-4
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Ninguno

Andean Swift only

Alpine Swift only

Ninguno

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Andean Swift

Canto

Melodic whistled phrase with clear flute-like quality; gentle ascending series of pure notes echoing across high Andean slopes.

Alpine Swift

Canto

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

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Andean Swift

Found along the Andes from Peru and Bolivia south to Chile and Argentina at 2,000–4,500 m. Resident in Andean valleys and rocky slopes.

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 Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Estado de conservación

Least Concern

Andean Swift

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Andean Swift

Plumaje

Dark blackish-brown upperparts; white throat and white flanks; slightly less bold white patterning than White-throated Swift; Andean high-altitude specialist ranging Peru to Argentina; similar plumage to congeners but geographically separated.

Alpine Swift

Plumaje

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 Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Andean Swift

A medium-sized swift (14-16 cm) of the high Andes from Peru to Argentina, typically found at 2,500-4,500 m elevation. Brown plumage with a white collar and belly. Aerial insectivore, foraging over high-altitude puna grassland and mountain slopes. One of the highest-flying swifts.

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.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family