Fernando Po Swift vs Alpine Swift
Apus sladeniae comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Fernando Po Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Apus sladeniae | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 35,4 cm (13.9 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 42,0 g (1.48 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial insectivore relying entirely on flying insects (midges, gnats, small beetles) and airborne spiders. | 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 | — | — |
Song & Call Comparison
Fernando Po Swift
Deep, resonant wingbeat audible alongside soft chips; quiet churring call barely distinguishable from surrounding ambient sounds.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fernando Po Swift
Found on Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea and adjacent Cameroon highlands. Restricted to mountain forests and highland areas.
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
Fernando Po Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Fernando Po Swift
Dark sooty-brown overall; pale greyish throat and chin patch; underparts slightly paler; broadly similar to African Swift; data-deficient Bioko Island endemic; plumage details poorly documented from limited specimens.
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
Fernando Po Swift
A medium-sized swift (14-15 cm) found on the island of Bioko (formerly Fernando Po) in the Gulf of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. A poorly known, range-restricted species limited to the volcanic island. Very limited ecological data available.
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.