Fork-tailed Palm Swift vs Alpine Swift
Tachornis squamata comparé à Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Fork-tailed Palm Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Tachornis squamata | Tachymarptis melba |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 20,7 cm (8.1 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 10,4 g (0.37 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Obligate aerial insectivore; takes small flies, beetles, and aerial spiders in swooping fast-flight passes. | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-4 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Fork-tailed Palm Swift
Loud, penetrating scream cutting above all noise; strident series of shrill descending notes, powerful for the bird's size.
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fork-tailed Palm Swift
Found in the Amazon basin from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Resident near Mauritia palm swamps.
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
Fork-tailed Palm Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Fork-tailed Palm Swift
Tiny; dark brown-black upperparts; white rump patch; underparts whitish with dark flanks; deeply forked tail; Amazonian species closely resembling Antillean Palm Swift; nests in Mauritia palm fronds; white rump and …
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
Fork-tailed Palm Swift
A small swift (12-13 cm) found in open country and palm savannas from Central America to southern Brazil and Trinidad. Dark plumage. Long, deeply forked tail. Aerial insectivore, closely associated with various palm species, nesting inside hanging dead palm fronds.
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.