Marquesas Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus ocistus comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Marquesas Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Aerodramus ocistus | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | — | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 9,5 g (0.34 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Marquesas Swiftlet
High thin twittering; 'chip-chip' over Marquesas Islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; poorly documented; thin high-pitched calls typical of small Pacific swiftlets
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Marquesas Swiftlet
Endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Resident on major islands including Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. Nests in sea caves.
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
Marquesas Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Marquesas Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale grey-white; forked tail; Marquesas Islands endemic in French Polynesia; closely related to Polynesian Swiftlet but isolated on its own archipelago.
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
Marquesas Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Population restricted to a few volcanic islands in the central Pacific. Classified as Endangered due to extremely limited range.
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.