Asian Palm Swift vs Alpine Swift
Cypsiurus balasiensis comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Asian Palm Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Cypsiurus balasiensis | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 22,9 cm (9.0 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 8,833333333333334 g (0.31 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Feeds on aerial plankton of tiny insects and spiders; entire diet captured during non-stop aerial … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Asian Palm Swift
High, wavering whistle with slightly nasal quality; gently pulsed notes trembling upward, characteristic of evening flight calls.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Asian Palm Swift
Found from India and Sri Lanka east through Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia. Common resident in open areas near palms.
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
Asian Palm Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Asian Palm Swift
Very slender; pale greyish-brown overall; paler below; extremely long deeply forked tail; tiny for a swift; South and Southeast Asian palm-nesting species; uniform pale brownish-grey coloration similar to African relative …
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
Asian Palm Swift
A slender swift (13 cm) widespread across South and Southeast Asia from India to the Philippines and Indonesia. Dark brown plumage with a deeply forked tail. Aerial insectivore, closely associated with palm trees, nesting on the underside of palm leaves. Abundant in tropical lowlands.
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.