Common Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus apus comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Apus apus | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 32,3 cm (12.7 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 41,5 g (1.46 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Aucun(e)
Common Swift only
Alpine Swift only
Aucun(e)
Song & Call Comparison
Common Swift
Crisp, two-noted call: quick sharp chip followed by descending whistle; distinctive pattern repeated at measured intervals.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Swift
Breeds across Europe and Asia from the British Isles east to Siberia and China. Long-distance migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Common Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Swift
Uniformly blackish-brown above and below; pale whitish throat patch; slightly forked tail; no other pale markings; sexes identical; the archetypal swift shape with scythe-like wings; widespread Palearctic breeder and Sub-Saharan …
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
Common Swift
A medium-sized swift (16-17 cm, wingspan 42-48 cm) with dark blackish-brown plumage and a pale throat. One of the most aerial of all birds, spending nearly its entire life on the wing, sleeping, eating, and even mating in flight. Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
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.