Waterfall Swift vs Alpine Swift
Hydrochous gigas so với Tachymarptis melba
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Thuộc Tính | Waterfall Swift | Alpine Swift |
|---|---|---|
| Tên Khoa Học | Hydrochous gigas | Tachymarptis melba |
| Bộ | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Họ | Apodidae | Apodidae |
| Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Chiều Dài | — | — |
| Chiều Dài Sải Cánh | 29,2 cm (11.5 in) | 43,9 cm (17.3 in) |
| Khối Lượng | 38,540000000000006 g (1.36 oz) | 97,5 g (3.44 oz) |
| Chế Độ Ăn | Obligate aerial forager; feeds entirely on the wing on small flying insects, midges, and airborne … | Aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; may forage at great heights following thermal … |
| Số Trứng | 1 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Waterfall Swift
Rapid, high-pitched twittering; sharp 'tsit-tsit' calls over Southeast Asian waterfalls; thin metallic notes; nest behind waterfalls; calls audible over roaring water
Alpine Swift
Rapid series of short, clipped whistles; bright, clean notes delivered in quick succession with occasional doubled phrase.
Geographic Range & Migration
Waterfall Swift
Found from southern Thailand through the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo. Restricted to rivers near waterfalls. Scarce.
Alpine Swift
Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia and the Himalayas to India. Migratory; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.
Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn
Waterfall Swift
Alpine Swift
How to Tell Them Apart
Waterfall Swift
Blackish-brown upperparts with slight gloss; grey-brown underparts paler than back; pale grey-white chin and throat; no rump patch; robust-bodied and large; Southeast Asian waterfall specialist with uniformly dark plumage 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
Waterfall Swift
A large swift (16-17 cm) endemic to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forested rivers and near waterfalls. Nests behind large waterfalls, where the name derives. One of the least known Asian swifts.
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.