Alpine Swift vs Mottled Spinetail
Tachymarptis melba comparé à Telacanthura ussheri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Alpine Swift | Mottled Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Tachymarptis melba | Telacanthura ussheri |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) | 29,1 cm (11.5 in) |
| Poids | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) | 32,65 g (1.15 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … | Aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; forages at speed over forest and open … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | 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.
Mottled Spinetail
Harsh, grating screech followed by rapid chattering; loud, raspy trill repeated insistently near colony roost sites.
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.
Mottled Spinetail
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Gambia east to Ethiopia and south to Zambia. Resident in forest, forest edge, and savanna woodland.
Statut de conservation
Alpine Swift
Mottled 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 …
Mottled Spinetail
Large spinetail; dark blackish-brown upperparts; white-mottled pale greyish underparts creating distinctively spotted belly; white rump band; spiny tail tips; African forest species with unique mottled underpart pattern among spinetails.
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.
Mottled Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (14-15 cm) found in tropical forests across sub-Saharan Africa. Dark plumage with white mottling on the throat and belly. Spine-tipped tail for clinging to vertical surfaces. Aerial insectivore. Nests inside hollow trees and palm trunks.