Alpine Swift vs Black Spinetail
Tachymarptis melba comparé à Telacanthura melanopygia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Alpine Swift | Black Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Tachymarptis melba | Telacanthura melanopygia |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) | 32,4 cm (12.8 in) |
| Poids | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) | 52,0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … | High-speed aerial insectivore catching small flying insects and aerial spiders during fast sustained flight. |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Black Spinetail
Deep, resonant chattering with gravelly undertones; series of rough churring notes interspersed with sharp screaming calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Alpine Swift
Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Black Spinetail
Found in West and Central Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon east to Uganda. Resident in lowland rainforest and forest edge.
Statut de conservation
Alpine Swift
Black Spinetail
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Black Spinetail
Large; entirely black plumage with slight gloss; black rump unlike white-rumped congeners; underparts dark; spiny tail; West African forest species; all-black coloration with no contrasting markings distinguishes it from all …
About These Birds
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.
Black Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) of lowland rainforests in West and Central Africa. All-dark plumage. Spine-tipped tail for bracing against tree trunks. Aerial insectivore, foraging above the forest canopy. Nests inside hollow trees. Uncommon and seldom observed.