Alpine Swift

The Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba) is a bird of considerable size among its kin, with a length spanning 20–22 cm and a wingspan of 54–60 cm. Its upper parts are cloaked in olive-brown, while the underparts boast a white throat and a distinctive oval white belly patch, encircled by an olive-brown breastband. The bird's broad wings and shallowly forked tail contribute to its striking silhouette in flight.

Identification Tips

When observing the Alpine swift, look for its broad wings and tail, which may appear blacker at the wing-tips. The white throat may be less visible, but the white belly patch is quite prominent. Juveniles resemble adults but have pale-edged feathers. The bird's larger size, white belly, and throat make it distinguishable from common swifts.

Habitat

Alpine swifts are typically found in mountainous regions but can adapt to urban environments, often nesting in old buildings in towns around the Mediterranean.

Distribution

This species is polytypic, with a year-round presence in eastern and southern Africa, Madagascar, western peninsular India, and Sri Lanka. Its breeding range extends from southern Europe to the Himalaya, with wintering populations in southern Africa.

Behaviour

Alpine swifts exhibit powerful and rapid flight with deep, slow wingbeats. They are known for their twilight ascent, a behavior involving increased flight activity at dawn and dusk. These birds spend most of their lives airborne, feeding on insects caught in flight.

Song & Calls

The Alpine swift's call is a drawn-out twittering, reflecting its aerial lifestyle.

Breeding

Alpine swifts build nests in colonies within cliff holes or caves, laying two or three eggs. They are known to return to the same nesting sites annually and pair for life.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Alpine swift consists mainly of arthropods, with insects across 10 orders and 79 families documented in their diets, including homoptera, diptera, and hymenoptera.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Alpine swift as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.