Alpine Swift

Tachymarptis melba

Breeding throughout mountainous regions of southern Europe and across to the Himalayas these birds are migratory, overwintering in southern Africa or central India. Worldwide, there are a total of ten subspecies from the nominate species, apus melba.

Alpine Swift

Alpine Swift

Three Alpine Swifts in flight together

Three Alpine Swifts in flight together

Alpine Swift gliding through the sky

Alpine Swift gliding through the sky

Alpine Swift in flight, from above

Alpine Swift in flight, from above

What does an Alpine Swift look like?

The alpine swift is a very large swift with broad wings and a short, forked tail. Upper parts, including the head on the adult bird, are olive-brown.

The chin and throat are white, and there is a large white patch covering the breast and both flanks, separated from the throat by an olive-brown breast band extending down from the head and circling the base of the bird’s neck. The lower belly area and vent are olive-brown with the undertail coverts a darker brown than the rest of the body.

The bill is tiny and very dark in colour, and the legs and feet are small and short. Adult males and females are similar in appearance.

Alpine Swift in flight

Alpine Swift in flight

Did you know?

The Alpine swift comes from the family Apodidae, which is ancient Greek for ‘without feet’, due to the fact that these birds have extremely short legs and small feet which are almost impossible to see when the bird is in flight.

It is also very rare to see an alpine swift alight on the ground. These amazing birds can eat and drink on the wing and may stay aloft without touching the ground for extraordinarily long periods of up to seven months!

What does an Alpine Swift sound like?

They are often seen in flocks where they emit a loud rising and falling metallic trilling chorus of ‘peee – ti – ti – tititititititi - ti – ti’.

Alpine Swift call

Sidney M, XC573659. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/573659.

Close up of an Alpine Swift

Close up of an Alpine Swift

What does an Alpine Swift eat?

Although the alpine swift is equipped with a very tiny beak it has an extremely large mouth in comparison which enables it to catch flying insects whilst it itself is in flight. Their diet consists of bees, wasps, lacewings, cicadas, aphids and butterflies.

Where can I see Alpine Swifts?

Alpine swifts and their subspecies can be found in southern Europe, Morocco, Libya, Asia minor, western, eastern and southern Africa, Madagascar, Middle East, Indian sub-continent and Sri Lanka and have even been reported in China.

Alpine Swift

Signs and Spotting tips

The alpine swift is a particularly graceful bird in the air with large broad wings, often swept back in a ‘boomerang shape, as it glides, swoops and soars in its almost continuous ariel ballet. Look out for its prominent white underbelly and flanks.

Frequently seen in large flocks flying low in Mediterranean climes, many of those breeding in temperate zones will migrate to Africa to over winter, attaining vast heights as they do so.

Breeding

Nesting takes place in shallow cups of grass and feathers ‘cemented’ together with spittle on cliff tops and in crags or holes in buildings and often forms part of a larger nesting colony.

Between 1 and 4 eggs are laid, usually 3 and incubated for a period of 3 weeks. Fledging occurs some 53 to 66 days after hatching. Pairs mate for life and will return to the same nest year after year.

How long do Alpine Swifts live for?

Life expectancy for alpine swifts is between ten to fifteen years.

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Quick Facts

Classification

Scientific name:

Tachymarptis melba

Family:

Swifts

Measurements

Length:

20cm to 23cm

Wingspan:

57cm

Weight:

100g

Similar birds to a Alpine Swift

Other birds in the Swifts family

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