Chimney Swift vs Alpine Swift

Chaetura pelagica comparado con Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Chimney Swift Alpine Swift
Nombre científico Chaetura pelagica Tachymarptis melba
Orden Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familia Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservación Vulnerable Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 24,9 cm (9.8 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
Peso 22,666666666666668 g (0.80 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
Dieta Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
Tamaño de la puesta 2-7 1-4
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Ninguno

Chimney Swift only

Alpine Swift only

Ninguno

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Song & Call Comparison

Chimney Swift

Canto

Rapid, liquid twittering with bright cheerful quality; chi-chi-chi staccato notes carrying well across open sky at dusk.

Alpine Swift

Canto

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

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Geographic Range & Migration

Chimney Swift

Breeds in eastern North America from Canada south to Texas. Long-distance migrant wintering in the upper Amazon basin of Peru and Brazil.

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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Estado de conservación

Vulnerable

Chimney Swift

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Chimney Swift

Plumaje

Small; uniformly dark sooty-grey overall with slightly paler grey throat and chin; no contrasting rump patch; short spiny tail; sexes identical; North American chimney-nesting species famous for its swirling pre-roost …

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 …

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About These Birds

Chimney Swift

Vencejo de chimenea (Chaetura pelagica), 12–14 cm. Plumaje gris oscuro uniforme; garganta gris pálida. Cola muy corta y espinosa. Antes nidificaba en árboles huecos, ahora principalmente en chimeneas. Gran migrador: cría en el este de Norteamérica e inverna en el oeste de América del Sur.

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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