Caroline Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus inquietus comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Caroline Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Aerodramus inquietus | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 22,8 cm (9.0 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 11,0 g (0.39 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Feeds on aerial plankton including tiny flies and spiders; forages in large noisy flocks above … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-2 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Caroline Swiftlet
Thin twittering calls; 'tsit-tsit' over Caroline Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; moderate-pitched for swiftlet; produces soft chattering at colonial nesting sites
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Caroline Swiftlet
Found across the Caroline Islands of Micronesia including Pohnpei and Chuuk. Resident in lowland forest and cave systems.
Alpine Swift
Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Statut de conservation
Caroline Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Caroline Swiftlet
Small; dark grey-brown upperparts; pale buff rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; Micronesian endemic from Caroline Islands; very similar to Palau Swiftlet but distributed on a distinct island group.
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
Caroline Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Caroline Islands of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae). Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial cave nester. Restricted to a few high volcanic islands in the western Pacific.
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.