Ashy-tailed Swift vs Alpine Swift
Chaetura andrei comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Ashy-tailed Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Chaetura andrei | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 22,3 cm (8.8 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 17,1 g (0.60 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial insectivore foraging continuously in flight, taking tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Song & Call Comparison
Ashy-tailed Swift
Dry rattling chatter with sharp staccato onset; brief bursts of clicking notes followed by descending hissing sound.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ashy-tailed Swift
Found in eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Partially migratory; moves north in austral winter. Lowland forest.
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
Ashy-tailed Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Ashy-tailed Swift
Small; dark sooty-brown overall; distinctly pale ashy-grey rump and tail contrasting with dark body; underparts dark grey-brown; ashy rump and tail the defining feature separating it from other South American …
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
Ashy-tailed Swift
A small swift (11-12 cm) of lowland forests in Venezuela, the Guianas, and Trinidad, with a separate population in southeastern Brazil. Dark plumage with an ashy-grey rump and undertail. Spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore. Nests in hollow palms and chimneys.
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.