Whitehead's Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift
Aerodramus whiteheadi comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Whitehead's Swiftlet | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Aerodramus whiteheadi | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 27,2 cm (10.7 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 14,0 g (0.49 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial plankton feeder taking tiny midges, fungus gnats, and ballooning spiders in rapid coursing flights. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Whitehead's Swiftlet
Thin twittering; 'chip-chip' calls over Borneo highlands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; data deficient; calls poorly documented from remote Bornean montane habitat
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Whitehead's Swiftlet
Endemic to the highlands of Borneo at 800–3,000 m. Resident in montane forest on Mount Kinabalu and the Crocker Range.
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
Whitehead's Swiftlet
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Whitehead's Swiftlet
Small; dark brownish-grey upperparts; pale buff-grey rump band; underparts pale grey-white; forked tail; Philippine endemic from Luzon; data-deficient species differing from Philippine Swiftlet mainly in habitat preference and island range.
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
Whitehead's Swiftlet
A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) endemic to the mountains of northern Luzon, Philippines. Dark plumage with a pale rump. Aerial insectivore of montane forest canopy above 1,000 m. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. Named after John Whitehead. Poorly known.
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.