Alpine Swift vs White-rumped Spinetail
Tachymarptis melba comparado con Zoonavena sylvatica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Alpine Swift | White-rumped Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Nombre científico | Tachymarptis melba | Zoonavena sylvatica |
| Orden | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familia | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Estado de conservación | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longitud | — | — |
| Envergadura | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) | 22,1 cm (8.7 in) |
| Peso | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) | 13,0 g (0.46 oz) |
| Dieta | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … | Catches aerial plankton of small insects and spiders in fast sweeping flight; roosts in rock … |
| Tamaño de la puesta | 1-4 | 3-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
White-rumped Spinetail
Shrill, reedy twittering calls; thin whistled notes cascading rapidly in flight, carrying a faint metallic quality overhead.
Geographic Range & Migration
Alpine Swift
Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
White-rumped Spinetail
Found in southwestern India (Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka. Resident in humid forest and forest edge in hills up to 1,800 m.
Estado de conservación
Alpine Swift
White-rumped Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
White-rumped Spinetail
Small; dark brown-black upperparts; bright white rump band strongly contrasting with dark back; underparts pale whitish; short spiny tail; South Asian forest species; white rump conspicuous in flight distinguishing it …
About These Birds
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.
White-rumped Spinetail
A small spinetail swift (10-11 cm) found in foothill and montane forests of the Indian subcontinent, from the Himalayas to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Dark plumage with a white rump band and spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore. Nests behind waterfalls and in caves.