Drab Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift

Collocalia neglecta comparé à Tachymarptis melba

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Drab Swiftlet Alpine Swift
Nom scientifique Collocalia neglecta Tachymarptis melba
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Apodidae Apodidae
Statut de conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
Poids 5,9 g (0.21 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
Régime alimentaire Entirely airborne insectivore; feeds on minute flying insects and web-dispersing spiders over open habitats. 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
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

Drab Swiftlet only

Alpine Swift only

Aucun(e)

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Song & Call Comparison

Drab Swiftlet

Chant

High, thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' in flight; echolocation clicks inside cave roosts; small size and unremarkable plumage matched by simple, thin high-pitched calls

Alpine Swift

Chant

Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Drab Swiftlet

Found on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Simeuluë Island off Sumatra. Resident in coastal and lowland habitats. Sedentary.

Alpine Swift

Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Statut de conservation

Not Evaluated

Drab Swiftlet

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

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How to Tell Them Apart

Drab Swiftlet

Plumage

Tiny; dull brownish-grey upperparts with little or no gloss; whitish-buff rump band; pale greyish-buff underparts; forked tail; as the name implies, lacks the iridescent gloss of most Collocalia swiftlets; island …

Alpine Swift

Plumage

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 …

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About These Birds

Drab Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (10 cm) found in the Philippines, Sulawesi, and the Moluccas. Dark grey-brown plumage, less glossy than related species. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Taxonomy has been revised repeatedly; sometimes merged with other swiftlet taxa.

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.

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