>> GENERAL >>>>>
– medium-sized near-passerine, significantly larger than Common Swift
– diurnal/nocturnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small very loose parties
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF2589, 16/05/2008, Monfrague, Spain, Martin Grimm
– unmistakable!
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, 2CY
BIF3549, 19/07/2021, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
– worn primaries, pale fringed undertail coverts and shape of the outermost tail feather suggest 2CY
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3535, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
– odd wingshape due to growing inner primaries and secondaries (postbreeding moult in summer)
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3536, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, prob. 2CY
BIF3537, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, prob. 2CY
BIF3538, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3539, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3540, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3332, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3333, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
– sandy brown upperside (cf. Common Swift)
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3334, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
Common Swift Apus a. apus
BIF3335, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
– note the distinct difference in size
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
Common Swift Apus a. apus
BIF3336, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba ssp.
BIF2590, 28/01/2014, Fort Portal, Uganda, Mathias Putze
– very long wings and white belly diagnostic even at greater distance
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3542, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3541, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3550, 19/07/2021, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3551, 19/07/2021, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– in flight a diagnostic, unmistakable but very variable trill
– sometimes single or repeated whistled excitement calls (overslur)
– no knowledge about sexual dimorphism in calls (like in Apus swifts)
– very vocal during migration (COFTA 2021), though no knowledge about distinct ‘migration calls’
– might be much more vocal on spring migration (advertising)
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight
BIF3531, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight
BIF3532, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight, excitement call
BIF3533, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight, excitement call
BIF3534, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Common Swift (v)
Pallid Swift (v)
Pacific Swift (v)
#swift #nearpasserine
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Reference:
Cofta T 2021, Flight Identification of European Passerines, Princeton