Uniform Swiftlet vs Alpine Swift

Aerodramus vanikorensis comparado com Tachymarptis melba

Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Uniform Swiftlet Alpine Swift
Nome científico Aerodramus vanikorensis Tachymarptis melba
Ordem Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Família Apodidae Apodidae
Estado de conservação Least Concern Least Concern
Comprimento
Envergadura 23,2 cm (9.1 in) 43,9 cm (17.3 in)
Peso 10,4 g (0.37 oz) 97,5 g (3.44 oz)
Dieta Tiny aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; congregates where insects emerge over water. Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal …
Tamanho da postura 1-2 1-4
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partilhados

Nenhum

Uniform Swiftlet only

Alpine Swift only

Nenhum

Song & Call Comparison

Uniform Swiftlet

Canto

Thin, high-pitched twittering; 'tsit-tsit' notes over Pacific islands; echolocation clicks inside caves; uniform dark plumage matched by simple unremarkable call quality

Alpine Swift

Canto

Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.

Geographic Range & Migration

Uniform Swiftlet

Found across Melanesia from the Moluccas and New Guinea east through the Solomons, Vanuatu, and Fiji. Resident in diverse habitats.

Alpine Swift

Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

Estado de conservação

Least Concern

Uniform Swiftlet

Least Concern

Alpine Swift

How to Tell Them Apart

Uniform Swiftlet

Plumagem

Small; dark grey-brown plumage throughout with rump barely or not at all paler than back; underparts slightly paler grey-brown; forked tail; unusually for Aerodramus, has minimal rump contrast; widespread Melanesian …

Alpine Swift

Plumagem

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

Uniform Swiftlet

A small swiftlet (11-12 cm) widespread from the Malay Peninsula through Indonesia to Melanesia. Dark uniform plumage with a slightly paler rump. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester using echolocation. One of the most taxonomically complex swiftlet species.

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.

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