Malagasy Palm Swift vs Alpine Swift
Cypsiurus gracilis comparado con Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Malagasy Palm Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nombre científico | Cypsiurus gracilis | Tachymarptis melba |
| Orden | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familia | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Estado de conservación | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longitud | — | — |
| Envergadura | 24,8 cm (9.8 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Peso | 12,0 g (0.42 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Dieta | Obligate aerial forager catching small flies, aphids, winged termites, and airborne spiders on the wing. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Tamaño de la puesta | 1-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Malagasy Palm Swift
Sharp, emphatic chip followed by buzzy rattle; staccato delivery with rising inflection at end of each phrase sequence.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Malagasy Palm Swift
Found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Resident in open areas with palms and forest edge across Madagascar.
Alpine Swift
Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Estado de conservación
Malagasy Palm Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Malagasy Palm Swift
Slender; pale grey-brown overall; underparts slightly paler; long deeply forked tail; Malagasy endemic; very similar to African Palm Swift in uniform pale brown coloration but slightly smaller and confined to …
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
Malagasy Palm Swift
A slender swift (15-16 cm) endemic to Madagascar. Dark brown plumage with a deeply forked tail. Closely related to African Palm Swift. Aerial insectivore, foraging over open country, towns, and along forest edges. Associated with Ravenala and other palms for nesting.
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.