Alpine Swift vs Sao Tome Spinetail
Tachymarptis melba comparé à Zoonavena thomensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Alpine Swift | Sao Tome Spinetail |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Tachymarptis melba | Zoonavena thomensis |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) | 21,9 cm (8.6 in) |
| Poids | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) | 8,0 g (0.28 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … | Aerial insectivore feeding on tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders in rapid powerful aerial pursuit. |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-4 | 2-4 |
| 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.
Sao Tome Spinetail
Sharp, high-frequency twittering with staccato clicking notes; rapid-fire chips strung together in buzzy aerial sequences.
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.
Sao Tome Spinetail
Endemic to São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Resident in lowland forest and forest edge. Small island population vulnerable to habitat loss.
Statut de conservation
Alpine Swift
Sao Tome 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 …
Sao Tome Spinetail
Tiny; dark blackish-brown upperparts; white rump patch; pale whitish underparts; short spiny tail; São Tomé Island endemic; very similar to Madagascar Spinetail but restricted to Gulf of Guinea; one of …
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.
Sao Tome Spinetail
A medium-sized spinetail swift (12-13 cm) endemic to the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial nester. Restricted range on two small islands. Classified as Near Threatened.