Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift vs Alpine Swift
Panyptila cayennensis comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Panyptila cayennensis | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 23,8 cm (9.4 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 21,8 g (0.77 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial insectivore feeding on swarms of small flies, winged ants, and tiny beetles during sustained … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Dry, clicking chatter interspersed with thin whistles; rapid mechanical trill delivered with persistent energy throughout day.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Found from Mexico south through Central America and South America to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in lowland and foothill forest edge.
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
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Black upperparts; white throat and white flanks; white rump patch; deeply forked long tail; smaller version of Great Swallow-tailed Swift; widespread from Mexico to South America; forked tail and bold …
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
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
A medium-sized swift (13-14 cm) with a moderately forked tail and white throat patch. Found from southern Mexico through Central America to Peru and Brazil. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. Nests under overhanging cliffs and bridges.
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.